Business angel Mark Lyttleton supports a range of worthy causes, including the UK charity, Dogs Trust. This article explores the impact of the cost of living crisis on dog ownership, outlining the resources provided by Dogs Trust for struggling pet owners.
In the UK, there are increasing media reports of pet owners going without so that they can feed and care for their animals, with demand for pet food banks rising sharply amidst the cost of living crisis. Today, tens of thousands of families with pets need help, with many more predicted to join their ranks in the future. For pet owners who are struggling financially, local pet food banks may be able to help. The attached PDF provides tips for pet owners to help save money while caring for their pet.
Dogs Trust is the largest dog welfare charity in the UK. In January 2023, the charity launched an integrated brand campaign demonstrating how the charity partners with pet owners, supporting dogs throughout the course of their lifetime. Created by VCCP, the charity’s ‘Ground Dog Day’ campaign aims to establish a new vision for Dogs Trust as it reframes itself as a charity that supports dogs and their owners through all stages of life. Discover more about the impact of Dogs Trust by viewing the attached infographic.
According to data gathered by Dogs Trust, 3% of dog owners predicted having to give up their dog before the end of 2023 as a direct impact of the cost-of-living crisis. The charity received record numbers of enquiries from dog owners regarding giving up their animals in 2022, with enquiries exceeding 50,000 that year.
Dogs Trust fears that the situation could become even worse, having received more than 1,900 handover requests in the first 10 days of 2023 alone, equating to a 46% rise compared with the same period the previous year. In response to urgent need, Dogs Trust has set up dog food banks at several rehoming centres, although there are fears this action may not be enough.
Dogs Trust CEO, Owen Sharp, explained that although it was only the start of 2023, they had already seen record high numbers of enquiries from people who needed to give up their dogs.
Recognising the joy dogs bring to everyday life, particularly in challenging times, Dogs Trust is committed to helping owners by providing training, support and advice to help keep pets and their owners together, operating with the ethos that the best place for a dog is with its loving family. This video briefly outlines the history of Dogs Trust, an organisation has been supporting dogs and their owners in the UK for more than 130 years.