Nearly a third of young pet owners worry about costs
Young pet owners may be disproportionately affected by rising costs.
The latest Animal Kindness Index has prompted warnings of a potential animal welfare emergency as nearly a third of young pet owners say they worry about being able to feed their pet.
The cost of living crisis is highlighted in the 2023 report, which shows that 81 per cent of people said that it was more expensive for them to feed their pets.
The survey suggests that younger pet owners, aged between 18-24, may be disproportionately affected by rising costs. Fifty-three per cent of pet owners aged 18- 24 years old had taken action to cut the costs of animal care, including changing food brands, cutting down on food, cancelling pet insurance and avoiding vet visits, compared to 28 per cent of pet owners aged 55 and over.
Forty-five per cent of those that had made changes believed their pet had suffered as a result.
More than 4,000 UK entrants took part in the survey, run by Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) and its Northern Ireland and Scottish counterparts, which asked questions on topics such as animal cruelty, welfare issues and aspects of pet ownerships.
The Scottish SPCA believe that the root of this welfare emergency comes from the cost of living crisis, making animal welfare inaccessible for young people.
Scottish SPCA CEO Kirsteen Campbell said, “It might be tempting to look at these figures on the surface and write them off as a younger generation who are not interested in, or knowledgeable about, animal welfare. But the data in the report paints a much more complex picture.
“Is it any wonder that young people don’t feel able to engage with animal welfare when they are struggling to protect their own welfare and that of their animals in a cost-of-living crisis?”
Veterinary practices are being urged to help owners safely dispose of any unused and expired pet medicines - not just antibiotics - during November's Animal Medicines Amnesty. 
