Are you cut out to be a pet owner?
There is a great amount of reward associated with being a pet owner. Research has shown that having a pet can make us happier, healthier and fitter. It’s no wonder therefore that one in three homes in the UK has a household pet. However, potential pet owners are being urged to consider their suitability for looking after a pet, following a record breaking year for pet abandonment.
In addition to the initial cost of a dog or cat and their vaccinations, there is the on-going cost of food, toys, bedding and medical treatment to consider. You can make some savings by buying things like food in bulk from stores such as http://www.petsathome.com/ but the long-term commitment of looking after a cat, dog, or even something small such as a rabbit, is a serious financial decision.
Over the past few years the economic situation in the UK has left many household budgets pushed to the max and this may well have contributed to the huge numbers of calls that the RSPCA has taken with regards to pet abandonment. In 2011, the RSPCA took 28,162 calls reporting animal abandonment, although the charity itself is keen not to blame the country’s economic difficulties alone.
Inspector Tony Woodley said: “Although it is tempting to blame the economic situation, we have no real idea of why the number of abandonments is increasing overall, but it is so frustrating to think that the messages about caring for animals just aren’t getting through to some people.”