Dear MEL Topic Readers,
A heartbreaking economic indicator: More people are giving up their
pets
During the COVID-19 pandemic, as in some other countries, pet adoption
surged in the US as people suddenly had more time at home and sought companionship.
Naturally, as the pandemic eased, the market for pets slowed down as well,
largely due to the pulled-forward demand. Some pet owners then realized that owning
and caring for canine and feline companions are more demanding and costly than
they had expected. Daily walk, vet visits, food, treats, and pet sitters during
absence all add up. Some pet owners gave up living with their once-beloved pets
and surrendered or abandoned them. In addition, recent inflation has hit pet owners
even more severely. For example, the price of dog food has increased by over
40% on average when compared to 2020 prices. In addition, inflation has pushed
up housing costs and food prices. As a result, an animal care & control
center in North Carolina has received 43% more owner surrenders so far this
year over last year. With higher tariffs on commodities, deportation of
undocumented workers (Vol. 4853), rising housing prices and home insurance premiums, and continuing
layoffs by tech companies, more pet owners may have to make a hard decision. Will
all those abandoned or surrendered pets be rescued and adopted? A deposit or
insurance for new pet owners might ease the financial burden on animal
shelters.
Read the article and learn about increasing pet surrenders in the US.
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