The cost of living crisis is the most urgent threat to pet welfare for owners in Cumbria according to the RSPCA.
The report also revealed that the rising cost of living and the cost of pet ownership could threaten our love for our pets, with 78% of pet owners saying they think the cost of living will impact their animals.
Almost seven out of ten participants expressed concern that the cost of care was increasing, and a fifth worried about how they’ll afford to feed their pets.
The study showed cat owners seem to be most impacted and concerned about cost of living pressures.
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Emma Slawinski, director of advocacy and policy at the RSPCA, said: "It’s great that our research has confirmed we are a nation of animal lovers, however we cannot ignore the stark suggestion that the cost of living crisis is the biggest single threat to pets in the UK today.
"We are on the brink of an animal welfare crisis due to the rise in pet ownership during the pandemic, coupled with the cost of living pressures biting, especially those on lower incomes. It’s absolutely heartbreaking."
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