Charities warn of 'wave of pet abandonment' as food and vet costs soar

Firefighter callouts for animal rescue have risen by 27% in five years, figures show, as charities warn of a wave of abandonment linked to the soaring costs of food and vet bills.

- Isaaq Tomkins

The RSPCA received a record 22,503 abandonment reports last year, as the cost of vets and pet food surged dramatically. Figures from the Office for National Statistics show vet costs last month were almost 50% higher than they were in 2020, and the average can of dog food went up in price from 60p to £1.03 over the same time period.

The charity Cats Protection said booming pet ownership in the midst of a cost of living crisis was putting the rescue sector under pressure. Charities and firefighters, who often work hand in hand to rescue abandoned animals, were "feeling the effect of those two things combined as owners face challenges caring for their pets", a spokesperson said.

The fire service has seen animal rescue callouts in England rise by 27% over five years - with domestic animal callouts up 38% in the same period. In the year to June 2025 there were 3,462 domestic animal rescues across the country - more than a third of which were in London. The London fire brigade estimates £686,475 was spent on animal callouts in the year to June, a leap from £261,253 in 2020.