Recession affecting pets in Britain
November 13th, 2011 - 11:04 am ICT by IANSLondon, Nov 13 (IANS) It seems global recession is taking a heavy toll on pets’ lives in Britain. Animal welfare charities here have warned of pets rapidly becoming the forgotten victims of the economic downturn.
According to Britain’s oldest and popular home for dogs, Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, the number of people handing pets over for financial reasons has doubled in the past year, the Daily Express reported.
The Blue Cross, a British animal welfare charity with animal hospitals and animal adoption services, says that this year so far it has taken in 1,530 stray and abandoned animals, which is up 50 percent over last year.
The animal welfare charity group Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals(RSPCA) cited a study suggesting that stray dog numbers were at a 10-year high and said inquiries from owners struggling to meet the costs of keeping pets were “steadily increasing”.
Even numbers of pregnant pets being brought in are also on the rise as owners cannot afford to raise the pups or kittens.
Aaron LeBlanc is one such pet owner who has asked Battersea to take in his Staffordshire bull terrier cross Shady.
“I lost my job four months ago and have tried really hard to find work, but now I’m worried that I might lose my home. Shady’s my best friend and I’ve had him for two years but I can’t afford him any more and I hope Battersea can find him a new home,” he said.
Battersea said it is getting calls every day from animal lovers who feel they have no option but to give up their pets as they can no longer afford rising vet bills.
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