The has put immense financial pressure on thousands of households across the UK. People are hit with expensive bills, leaving them with less money to spend, including on their beloved pets.
The staff at in Cambridgeshire, which appears on the hit have witnessed the knock-on effect of the cost of living crisis, paired with the aftermath of Covid. As households struggle to pay vet bills and buy food for their pooches, more and more people are heartbreakingly left with no choice but to take their dogs to a rehoming centre.
Speaking exclusively to the about this, Woodgreen Pet Matching Officer and star of Helen Prestage, told us: "We're always busy, we've always got a waiting list, and we've always got more demand for people to bring into us than we have for dogs to rehome and kennel space that we have. But I think the cost of living crisis has meant that people who wouldn't have ordinarily given up their dogs are seeking financial help or having to relinquish their pets.
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"The cost of living, which has kind of been on the back of the Covid epidemic, has increased people's need to give up their pet because people can't literally afford to feed their dogs. It's not even lots of medical cases coming in."
Helen adds: "It is a combination, but I think on a basic level, just being able to feed a dog has been a real struggle for people, whereas previously it wasn't an issue." In addition, Woodgreen has also seen a rise in designer dog breeds having to be rehomed.
"We're seeing a lot more like designer breeds over the last few years," Helen shared. "That does come along with more health issues and with vet costs where they are. It's really difficult for people to own a pet and take care of that pet, especially if they need to go to the vet for anything other than routine, which a lot of these dogs do unfortunately need.
"People are really, really struggling. Some people haven't been able to afford, even with pet insurance, the excess or the initial consultation fee they have to pay. Honestly, I would say anyone could own a dog around 10 years ago because as long as you put in a bit of money each month, it's doable. But now it's pushed a lot of people out of that bubble, and they can't have pets."
While giving any pet away can be absolutely devastating, the Pet Matching Officer explains that sometimes finding a dog a new home is the best thing for them. She said: "Sometimes it is just the best place for that pet to be. There is a lot of judgment out there, but I've worked here for 17 years, and I've seen it all, and I've seen how heartbreaking it is for most people to give up their pets.
"It's a very small minority that just hand the pet over. For most people, that's a member of their family, and they're doing it because they think it's in the pet's best interest and it's going to improve their welfare, which, anyone that loves dogs, that's a last resort."
Helen also explained that Covid has also played a huge part in pet owners having to take their dogs to a rescue centre for rehoming. "What we're seeing is a lot of 'Covid puppies' now coming into us and still coming into us where there may be three or four now but still have missed that critical socialisation period early on," Helen explains.
She adds, "They haven't been able to socialise with other dogs for the first year of their lives, they haven't been left home alone for the first year of their lives, and then they've gone through adolescence, they're getting into adulthood, and people say, 'We can't cope with this'."
The expert explains that they have a great behavioural team at who can help owners if they are struggling, as they always aim to "keep the pet in the home" if they can. They can also offer support with some medical and neutering issues or if anyone just needs advice. Helen shared: "We've got people here that would be more than happy to help and support ongoing in terms of behaviour as well, so that at least we've explored all options before that decision's made to bring that pet into us."
Speaking about the success of The Dog House show with Woodgreen, Helen said: "It generated a lot of interest from people wanting to come to us to re-home from all over the place, which has been lovely." She explained that they rely on public donations and support to keep doing what they're doing, and there are many ways the public can help out. "We don't get any government funding, so anyone that supports us is amazing. If you can't re-home because you've already got a dog or you're not in a position to, but you want to help out along with the rescue, fostering, volunteering and donating are always needed."
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