Abandoned and Sheltered Pets on the Rise As Economy and Inflation Impact More Families | John M Dabbs

Dogs are being abandoned, and rescue centers are overwhelmed as the increased cost of living leads to people getting rid of pets taken in during the pandemic. One charity has seen a 75 percent increase compared to last year, and another says owners threaten to dump their dogs on the street when told there is no room.

The number of pets being found and dropped at shelters in the Tri-Cities has increased. Thanks to social media, the ability to track down owners of lost pets is much better than it was a decade ago.

Pet owners are forced to decide between paying for food and shelter or keeping their pets in some circumstances due to today’s inflation. Surrendering pets to animal care centers is up 25% over last year in some areas, such as New York City. In an interview with Fox News Digital, Katy Hansen, Director of Marketing and Communications of Animal Care Centers of NYC, said, “The biggest reason is housing. They are moving because they have lost their job or cannot afford to live in their home anymore . Couple that with the rising cost of everything (including pet food, supplies, and other essentials), and many shelters are indeed seeing an increase. It’s so sad.”

Tennessee

Data from Shelter Animals Count, a nonprofit organization monitoring the country’s animal welfare across the nation, shows an increase of 6,4060 relinquished pets over last year over the first half of 2022. It isn’t just New York City. pet owners in Johnson City, Tennessee; Akron, Ohio; Jacksonville and Orlando, Florida; Stockton, California; Houston, Texas; Farmington, New Mexico; and Missoula, Montana, are also bringing pets to shelters at an alarming rate.

The ASPCA estimates that the average annual cost of a dog is $1,391, and the average annual cost of a cat is $1,149.

Total pet costs are up to 7.1 percent year-to-date on the Consumer Price Index, according to Pet Age, a business-to-business pet news company.

Total pet costs are up to 7.1 percent year-to-date on the Consumer Price Index, according to Pet Age, a business-to-business pet news company.

“The net was a June YTD CPI increase vs. 2021 for Total “Petflation” of 7.1 percent, which is 85.5 percent of the extraordinarily high 8.3 percent overall rate,” Pet Age’s report said. “It was only 72.5 percent in March.”

Economic news from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics on July 13 said gasoline, shelter, and food are some of the “largest contributors” to the rising consumer price index for all urban consumers. The gas index rose 11.2 percent, the shelter index rose 0.6 percent, and food rose 1 percent in June 2022.

A new rent report from Rent.com — an apartment search engine and online marketplace — estimates that the national average rent price for a one-bedroom is $1,701 (up 25.3% year-over-year) and a two-bedroom is $2,048 (up 26.5% year-over-year).

Not just a US problem

The conundrum is not limited to the US In an interview with Newsweek, Ira Moss, general manager and founder of the dog rescue charity, All Dogs Matter in the UK, said, “We have been inundated with calls and emails from people desperate for our help to rehome their dogs, many bought in lockdown and now suffering from medical or behavioral issues. It’s reached a point where we have to turn dogs away as we’re at full capacity, a situation we never want to be in.”

Rescue charities are still coping with the surge they faced after COVID-19 lockdowns when lockdown puppies were swiftly given up as soon as life got back to normal. In 2021, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) rescued 29 percent more animals than the year before. With the cost of living crisis, rescue and rehoming charities are even more overwhelmed.

Halita Obineche, executive director of the Association of Dogs and Cats Homes, said owners often don’t know what to expect when taking on a dog.

She said: “The problem is due to inexperienced owners unable to manage pets with behavioral issues caused by poor training and a lack of socialization, workers returning to the office, and now the rising cost of living, all combining to create a national animal welfare crisis.”

The issue remains

Many people love their pets, yet they are not thinking long-term and do not have the plan to care for their animal should their economic situation change. Pets are a wonderful addition to our lives that bring many benefits other than simple companionship. They can be used to teach children responsibility and can help calm and soothe adults and lead to longer lives.