More pets getting dumped as care costs start to bite

Some owners are having to pay up to £1,000 on food and medical assistance a year, and are turning to charities for help.

Some 12,000 animals were handed over to the Hillingdon, Slough, Windsor, Kingston and District RSPCA last year alone.

Branch chairwoman, Irene Hansford, said: "The demands on our financial resources have been harder than ever. I don't know what the answer is, I am very concerned."

With owners now paying an average of £30 for a vet's consultation and £1,000 for further treatment, many are being priced out of pet ownership. In 2007, the branch treated 11,326 animals and rehomed 984 of them.

Figures show that in Britain 7,347 animals were dumped by their owners last year, compared to 5,959 in 2006. So far this year, 2,621 animals have already been rescued.

Louise Lee, spokesperson for animal welfare charity Blue Cross, said there had been a 52 per cent increase nationally in January-April, compared to the same period last year.

Of those pets, 30 per cent more than last year were abandoned because of financial reasons.

She said: "Please don't abandon your pets, there are always charities out there to help."

The RSPCA says a breakdown in relationships and people moving to new jobs are the main reasons for people abandoning their pets.

But Mrs Hansford said more people were buying pets irresponsibly, possibly unaware of the costs involved.