Pets fall victim to the credit crunch (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Pets fall victim to the credit crunch

5:59am Monday 16th June 2008 in

• Skip social links
• Print
• Email
•  

• Play Video

Pets are being dumped at RSPCA centres in increasing numbers as their owners fall victim to the credit crunch.

The charity is now hearing heart-rending stories from people in the Bradford area who are being forced to give up their animals due to financial hardship.

And the is also an increased number of calls from people requesting financial help and fewer donations which the charity relies upon, warned Pam Laking, RSPCA administrator for the Craven and Upper Wharfedale branch.

Now, as part of RSPCA Pet Adoption Week, the branch is urging people to offer homes to animals whose previous owners can no longer afford them.

Pet owners are also being asked to take out insurance in case they are faced with vets' bills.

And the charity has issued a plea to property landlords to allow pets to be kept in rented accommodation.

Mrs Laking said: "The current financial crisis contains a lot of hidden aspects and animals are one of them. They are vulnerable and cannot do anything for themselves.

"People are having to make decisions to get rid of their pets because they cannot afford to feed them and some are even being forced to make the heartbreaking decision to have them put down.

"People are unable to get mortgages approved and are struggling to cope with the rise in interest rates, fuel and food prices and we would urge landlords to please allow animals to be housed in rented properties.

"A clause can be included in the contract to accommodate animals.

"We are finding people are less and less able to give us money and we are, as is every other branch of the RSPCA, entirely self-funded."

Nationally, the charity stated that it had not yet got "concrete evidence" that the credit crunch was affecting the rise in the number of animals at its centres from 2006 to 2007.

A spokesman said: "What we would say is that pet owners should be responsible and they need to prepare themselves for the unforeseen, whether it is their animals becoming poorly, having an accident or a change in personal circumstances. They are now legally obliged to care for their pets' needs."

If pet owners are desperate, they can contact the RSPCA's cruelty and advice line on 0300 123 4999.

Anyone who is able to adopt a pet from the Craven and Upper Wharfedale branch should contact Mrs Laking on 07949 229955.