It may seem that everyone picked up a hobby or tried something new during the pandemic. Some tried their hand at baking sourdough bread, growing vegetables, exercising, and even adopting pets. This sudden influx of new owners has caused a rise in pet prices.
If you are looking into the cost to buy a pet, the experts at UK veterinary wholesalers, 365 Vet share their advice on what to expect.
Pandemic Pet Price Inflation
The UK’s first lockdown began in late March 2020. People who already owned pets were excited to spend more quality time with their furry friends, and many others were searching for the cost to buy or adopt a dog, cat and other pets. Shelters and pet shops from all around saw increases in sales and enquiries.
For example, the RSPCA experienced a 600% boom in visits to their webpage on fostering puppies in the first few weeks of the lockdown.
The Kennel Club launched an internet campaign asking prospective pet owners to BePuppyWise. They found a quarter of buyers say they did not do much research and may have unknowingly bought their new pup from cruel, high-volume puppy breeding mills. Additionally, 20% felt uncertain how their dog will fit into their life after the lockdown was over.
While many of the new pets adopted during the pandemic are in loving homes, some made impulsive decisions. Why does it matter? The surge in adoptions, fosters, and purchases all raise the price of pet food, entertainment, and medical care as the demand increases.
What’s Next?
It’s not just the rise in demand or increased costs to adopt a cat or dog that is making pet ownership more expensive. During the lockdown and periods of time before businesses, schools, and other venues were open, owners could spend the whole day with their new pet. Now, as new found pet owners return to work or school, many worry that those changes in their pet’s routine will impact costs.
Disruptions to a pet’s routine may cause nervousness, separation anxiety, or destructive behaviour. In response to sudden changes or stress, cats or dogs may develop diarrhoea and loss of appetite. To avoid this, many working pet parents now invest in pet sitting or daycare services.
Unfortunately, these services are not available to everyone. Rising costs mean that buying or continuing to care for a pet may become prohibitively expensive. While it is impossible to predict exactly how much a dog or cat costs now or how that may increase in the future. It is really important to make sure that you budget for unexpected bills or emergency expenses.
Budgeting for Pet Care
The cost to adopt a pet is often a standalone expense, on average around £50-£200 for a cat, and dog adoption fees can range from £150-£500, often depending on the breed or the adoption venue.
The typical pet owner can expect to pay at least £50 per month for the basics like food, toys, flea and tick prevention, vaccines, and so on. Once you add insurance, vet bills, dog walking and daycare costs, and you can be looking at over £1,200.
Surging Pet Prices and Responsible Ownership
The surge in pet prices seen as the pandemic is in a lull may be due to the number of people who adopted or bought cats and dogs without thinking about the future. As demand rises for care and products, so do the prices. It is important to foresee that these expenses may continue to rise.
365 Vet provides veterinary prescription and non-prescription drugs at affordable rates so you can always afford to take the best care of your pet. Find out more here.
