The growing trend is concerning in **the United Kingdom**: more and more owners are opting to **abandon their pets** due to economic difficulties that prevent them from taking care of them.
The **cost of living** in the United Kingdom has risen after the **pandemic** and the conflict in **Ukraine**. Although inflation has shown signs of moderation, Britons continue to face high prices in various areas. In the case of pet food, the increase has been **25%**.
Increasing pet abandonment
In the first months of 2025, the animal welfare association **RSPCA**, the oldest in the world in its field, has received over **5700 reports of abandonment**, representing an increase of **32%** compared to the same period in 2024.
Last year ended with **22,500 registered cases**, a **7%** increase from 2023.
Britons and their pets
The economic impact has plunged citizens into a difficult situation. The United Kingdom is a country with a strong culture of **living with animals**: **more than half** of the adult population—approximately **26 million people**—own a pet, according to **RSPCA**.
The pandemic led to an **increase in pet acquisition**, followed by a wave of abandonments when people resumed their normal lives. Some continue to give away animals purchased during lockdowns.
However, the main reason behind the current crisis seems to be the **rising cost of living**, according to **David Bowles**, a spokesperson for **RSPCA**. “It has been five years since the first covid lockdown. In our organization, we believe that the crisis in purchasing power severely affects people’s ability to pay for veterinary treatments,” he explained.
Inflation in the UK exceeded **11%** at its peak in October 2022. Although it later decreased, prices of products like pet food remain **25% higher** than before the pandemic.
