RSPCA poll anticipates £300 million will be spent on pampering pets

The results of a survey, released by the RSPCA, have revealed that animal lovers across the UK are set to spend around £300 million pampering their pets this Christmas.

The poll, taken by almost 900 pet owners, suggests that nine out of 10 (91 per cent) owners will be buying a present for their pet this year, with 3 per cent admitting they are willing to splash out more than £50.

A fifth of owners confessed they will be spending more on their pet than their mother-in-law this Christmas, with a third (39 per cent) planning to spend less on their friends. Some animal lovers even admitted to spending more on their pet than their partner or children!

Manager of the RSPCA animal centre in South Godstone, Darren Parrish, commented: “It’s lovely to hear that a vast majority of pet owners consider them to be part of the family and really include them in the Christmas celebrations.
 
“It goes to show we really are a nation of animal lovers with nine out of ten owners buying their pet a pressie, a quarter having an advent calendar and more than half having a Christmas stocking.”

Mr Parrish will be joining the 91 per cent of owners buying their pets presents this Christmas, admitting he will be treating his two cats and two dogs to something special. He is also encouraging owners to help spoil the animals in RSPCA centres to a Christmas feast too.

He said: “It would be wonderful if animal lovers could share a bit of their festive joy with some of the RSPCA’s 4,600 animals spending Christmas in our centres this year.
 
“As little as £3 could feed an RSPCA cat or dog at Christmas or maybe you could think about offering one of our animals a place in your family. Who knows maybe you could be watching the Queen’s Speech with your RSPCA rescue pet next year.”