A poll carried out for Dogs Trust by YouGov shows that four in ten (40%) of the UK’s dog owners fear it will be even harder to give their dogs all they need this coming winter than it was last year.
Following a record number of enquiries* from owners about giving up their dogs last year, Dogs Trust, the UK’s largest canine charity, set out to discover whether this winter will be better or worse, with kennel space at a premium.
Unfortunately, the results of the poll paint a bleak picture. Just one in five people (20%) said they did not have any financial worries about looking after their dog. Almost one in ten (9%) said they were ‘very worried’.
Home and hearth… and bills, bills, bills
To understand the underlying causes of people’s financial concerns, Dogs Trust asked in the poll what, currently, was the biggest source of their financial worries as they look ahead to the autumn and winter months. More than one in ten (11%) of dog owners said it was their mortgage payments.
Nearly half (46%) said it was their gas and electricity bills, and almost a quarter (23%) said the cost of food was their biggest concern.
Asked which was their greatest worry in terms of dog care, almost half (49%) cited vet bills; 12% said pet insurance and 12% said it was the price of dog food.
Owen Sharp, Dogs Trust CEO, said: “Although, thankfully, the volume of inquiries we’ve received from people about giving up their dogs has reduced over the summer, thousands of people are still calling us every month needing help.
“The results of our poll are a stark reminder that we mustn’t be lulled into a false sense of security about what lies ahead. Dog owners have spoken loud and clear about how worried they are that this winter will be even tougher than the last, so please don’t wait until the cold weather hits before reaching out for our help if you need it.”
How Dogs Trust is helping
Dogs Trust is doing all it can to keep dogs at home with the people who love them:
- The charity has set up dog food banks at its rehoming centres across the UK, which are open to anybody who’s having trouble stretching to a canine mouth to feed.
- It is offering a discounted rate on its Dog School training classes, to help owners who might be experiencing behavioural problems.
- It is urgently seeking foster carers who can offer a temporary home to big dogs, dogs with little-to-no house training, or dogs with challenging behaviour, to free up much needed space in rehoming centres.
- Dogs Trust is also asking the Government to do its bit by pausing the VAT on pet food and veterinary services. It is asking people to sign its petition asking The Chancellor to Paws the VAT
- Dogs Trust Contact Centre can be contacted Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm on 020 7837 0006 or at [email protected]
