Increasing Costs of Owning a Pet

Owning a pet brings countless benefits, from companionship to physical and mental health improvements. However, the financial burden associated with pet ownership is escalating, and this is a matter of significant concern. The rising costs are not only straining pet owners’ budgets but are also leading to heart-wrenching decisions to surrender or euthanize for purely financial reasons

The financial pressure of increasing costs is significant. Pet owners are finding it more challenging to provide care for their pet companions, leading to several difficult scenarios:

Delayed or Skipped Veterinary Visits: To save money, some owners delay or skip routine vet visits, which can result in untreated health issues becoming severe and more costly in the long run.
Choosing Cheaper, Lower Quality Food: In an effort to cut costs, some pet owners opt for less expensive pet food, which can lead to nutritional deficiencies and related health problems.
Surrendering Pets: In extreme cases, financial strain forces owners to surrender their pets to shelters. This is a heartbreaking decision that is becoming more common as costs rise.

The Toughest Decisions

One of the most distressing consequences of the rising costs is the difficult choice pet owners must make when faced with emergency veterinary care. Treatments for unexpected illnesses or injuries can run into thousands of dollars.

Without adequate savings or insurance, many owners must decide between incurring debt or euthanizing their beloved pet. This scenario is emotionally devastating and highlights a critical issue in pet care affordability.

Why All of Us Should Care

The well-being of pets and pet owners is deeply interconnected with societal values and public health. Here’s why everyone should be concerned about the increasing costs:

Animal Welfare: High costs can lead to neglect or abandonment, causing distress and suffering for animals. Ensuring pets receive proper care is a fundamental aspect of humane society.

Mental Health: Pets provide emotional support and improve the mental health of their owners. Financial stress and the potential loss of a pet can exacerbate mental health issues.
Public Health: Neglected pets can become a public health issue. Unvaccinated animals are more likely to contract and spread diseases, which can affect other pets and humans.

What Lies Ahead for the Cost of Pet Care?

Corporate entities are acquiring local independent veterinary practices. Their more standardized approach to pricing does not consider the varied budgets and needs of pet guardians.

If current trends continue, veterinary care may be priced out of reach for a growing number of people, making organizations like PAWS Progressive Animal Welfare Services a crucial link to keep people and their pets together.

Companion animal veterinary fees in Ontario are some of the highest in Canada. The good news is that there are ways to keep those costs down. The most important of those is preventive health care, such as annual checkups, vaccines, spay/neuter surgeries, home dental care, and regular grooming. These are by far the most cost-effective and life-preserving steps a caregiver can take to protect a pet’s health. Funding these preventive approaches makes good financial sense.

PAWS is working with veterinary care providers in Ontario to help people get the vet care their pets need.

We hope that you will join us in the battle to keep people and their pets together.