{"id":4596,"date":"2024-11-18T12:08:44","date_gmt":"2024-11-18T12:08:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.scottishspca.org\/what-we-do\/pet-aid-2\/"},"modified":"2025-01-31T11:59:49","modified_gmt":"2025-01-31T11:59:49","slug":"cost-of-living","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.scottishspca.org\/cost-of-living\/","title":{"rendered":"Cost of Living"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Cost of Living<\/h1>\n

If you’re a pet owner who’s struggling to cope with the rising costs of food or healthcare, we\u2019ve put together some advice to help.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/section>

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If you’re a pet owner who’s struggling to cope with the rising costs of food or healthcare, we\u2019ve put together some advice to help.<\/p>\n

Before taking on a pet, you should always consider if you will be able to afford the different aspects that come along with caring for an animal such as food, insurance and vet care.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/section>

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Help with the cost of pet food<\/h2>\n

Many pet owners find that feeding their animals can be a big expense. A healthy, balanced, complete diet is vital for any animal to keep them healthy.<\/p>\n

Pet Aid is our initiative to support people and pets who are struggling. Through Pet Aid, we provide essential food supplies for animals utilising a network of food banks across most of Scotland. Keeping pets and people together is an amazing way to protect animal welfare. Nobody should have to give up their pet because they are unable to afford the items they need.<\/p>\n

You can find a list of foodbanks Pet Aid is working with\u00a0here<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/section>

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Contact our helpline<\/h2>\n

Calls to our animal helpline to give up pets more than trebled in 2022. Many people don\u2019t want to give up their animal, but feel they have no choice.<\/p>\n

If you need help or advice, you can call our animal helpline in confidence on 03000 999 999.<\/p>\n

Our helpline is open 8am to 8pm<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s not okay to abandon an animal, but it is okay to talk to us if you feel you are struggling.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/section>

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Top 10 Advice Tips<\/h4>\n

1.<\/strong>\u00a0Seek support from neighbours, relatives or friends to walk your dog if you can longer pay for a dog walker to make sure your dog still gets adequate exercise. Make sure the person you ask is a responsible adult, confident with handling your dog and someone you can trust.<\/p>\n

2.<\/strong>\u00a0Pet food can be incredibly expensive so why not explore whether there is a cheaper food that is still high value and meets your pets’ needs.\u00a0You could mix your regular food with a cheaper brand to make it stretch further. Dry food goes much further than wet food, even though the upfront cost can be higher. Your pet is eating a well-balanced diet that is specific for their species and suitable for their age, lifestyle and health!<\/p>\n

Remember:\u00a0check with your vet before switching your pet’s diet.<\/p>\n

3.<\/strong>\u00a0See if it’s possible to reduce your visits to a groomer and ask your groomer about things you can do at home between visits to reduce the amount of professional grooming needed.<\/p>\n

4.<\/strong>\u00a0Always buy your pet from a reputable source as that will help reduce the chances of a large vet bill due to poor breeding practices.<\/p>\n

5.<\/strong>\u00a0Shop second-hand for bedding, toys, heat lamps etc.<\/p>\n

6.<\/strong>\u00a0Speak to your vet about options for monthly payment plans if you have a large vet bill that needs paid.<\/p>\n

7.<\/strong>\u00a0Shop around for pet insurance but make sure the cover you choose is adequate and suits your needs (check your excess cover).<\/p>\n

8.<\/strong>\u00a0Speak to your current pet insurance provider and see if they can offer you more affordable options or a payment plan.<\/p>\n

9.<\/strong>\u00a0Look at options for ordering food and supplies in bulk as sometimes that works out cheaper.<\/p>\n

10.<\/strong>\u00a0Make your own pet toys. Use reputable guides from trusted organisations on how you can do this and make sure they are safe and suitable for your chosen pet.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/section>

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Looking after exotic animals in the cost of living crisis<\/h2>\n

Despite the increase in the cost of living and energy bills, it’s important that you\u00a0don’t turn down temperatures or light sources\u00a0for your exotic pets. This can lead to serious health problems for exotic animals – and potentially high vet bills in the future.<\/p>\n

Exotics can be expensive pets at the best of times as they require specialist care to ensure their needs are met. The majority of exotics, including reptiles, need a carefully controlled environment requiring access to specialised equipment for lighting and 24-hour heating.<\/p>\n

Additionally, many exotic animals can live for decades, making ownership a very long-term responsibility for an exotic pet keeper.<\/p>\n

Share heat sources<\/strong><\/p>\n

If you’re struggling with the costs of heating and lighting for reptiles, move multiple animals into the same room so heat sources do not have to work as hard. Take care that animals do\u00a0not overheat.<\/p>\n

Search for cheaper tariffs or payment plans<\/strong><\/p>\n

Speak to your energy supplier if you’re struggling with the energy costs for your pets, as they may be able to offer a cheaper tariff or payment plans.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/section>

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Shop second-hand<\/h2>\n

You might be able to find second-hand equipment for sale such as heat lamps or UV light tubes. Use a thermometer or solarmeter to check that they’re still giving out the right levels of heat or light, as they can wear out over time.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/section>

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Invest in pet insurance<\/h2>\n

Insurance is very important when owning a pet.\u00a0Unexpected vet bills can cause stress and take a toll on your finances.\u00a0It\u2019s always worth shopping around for pet insurance and ensuring that you are taking out the correct cover to meet your pet\u2019s needs.<\/p>\n

Keeping on top of preventative care such as worming and flea treatments will help as these problems can often become expensive if not dealt with straight away.<\/p>\n

If your animal does have a medical issue, talk to your vet about lower-cost treatment alternatives. These options often have good results although may come with more uncertainty \u2013 your vet will be able to fully explain any alternative<\/p>\n

You may be able to spread the cost of treatment. Some veterinary practices offer payment plans through a credit company so it\u2019s worth asking if this payment option is available. You may wish to get independent advice before using a credit company.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/section>

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Doggy day care<\/h2>\n

Doggy day care can be a big expense. If you haven\u2019t already, why not ask trusted family or friends to look after your pet while you are at work?\u00a0 Studies have shown that having a pet around can have a positive impact on your mental health and can also combat loneliness, so it may be a win-win situation for your chosen pet sitter too!<\/p>\n

If you would like to volunteer with our Pet Aid service or you are a food bank looking to come on board, you will find all the information\u00a0here<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/section>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

If you’re a pet owner who’s struggling to cope with the rising costs of food or healthcare, we\u2019ve put together some advice to help.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-4596","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nCost of Living - Scottish SPCA<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.scottishspca.org\/cost-of-living\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Cost of Living\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"If you're a pet owner who's struggling to cope with the rising costs of food or healthcare, we\u2019ve put together some advice to help.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.scottishspca.org\/cost-of-living\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Scottish SPCA\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/scottishspca\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-01-31T11:59:49+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@ScottishSPCA\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.scottishspca.org\/cost-of-living\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.scottishspca.org\/cost-of-living\/\",\"name\":\"Cost of Living - 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