Credit crunch pet advice

 

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The current economic climate has got us all making little cutbacks here and there. But while some of us are swapping bottled water for tap, desperate times are leading others to take more desperate measures – with serious consequences for their pets.

Figures from the RSPCA show that 57% more animals were abandoned last year than in 2007, with a 52% increase in the number of calls from people wanting to give up an animal.The Battersea Dogs and Cats Home has also seen a significant rise in stray dogs, which it believes is due to the credit crunch.

Even if people aren't forced into giving up their animals, they may be looking for other ways to cut the cost of ownership. While swapping your normal pet food for leftovers may seem an attractive proposition for those who need to save money, this can be a false economy. Cat behaviour counsellor Vicky Halls, quoted in the Scotsman in April 2009, explains why: "In the long run a poor diet will only lead to more outgoings, with expensive vet bills." Luckily, there are ways to save money without affecting your pet's health and happiness. Here are some top tips from pet insurer Halifax on how to look after your animal without having to dip into your life savings.

 

• Rescue a pet

  Take in a rescue animal and you'll not only be saving them from a life behind bars, you'll be saving yourself a fortune too. Charity dogs or cats cost significantly less than you'd pay at a pet shop or breeder with many homes just requesting a donation. Some charities will even arrange free or heavily subsidised vaccinations and neutering too.
  
  

• Choose a mongrel not a pedigree

  Not only will a sleek, pedigree animal cost more than your average mutt or moggie to buy, some breeds are plagued by health problems and could end up costing you more each year in vet's bills. If you must buy a pedigree, do your research on expected lifespans and health predispositions of the different species and breeds. The Blue Cross has some valuable tips
  
  

• Buy online and in bulk

  From dog food to cat litter, buying essentials in bulk online from reliable sites can make you huge savings. You can even save up to 50% on medications like worming tablets and flea treatment by going online rather than to your local vet's surgery.
  
  

• Form a cat-sitting or dog-walking circle

  Paying someone to come in and feed your cat while you're away can cost a fortune. Instead, talk to friends and neighbours to see if you can help each other out. Perhaps you could feed your Aunt's cat while she's on holiday, if she'd walk Rover once a week while you're at work.
  
  

• Get them vaccinated

  When money's tight, it's tempting to accidentally "forget" about those booster jabs. However, if your animal falls ill with something it could have been vaccinated against it may cost more than the cost of the immunisation in the first place and may well invalidate any pet insurance policies you have.
  
  

• Don't skimp on pet insurance

  According to This Is Money, 40% of the cost of owning a dog goes towards unforeseen vet bills so having adequate pet insurance in place really can make you savings. And when you consider that most pets become much-loved members of the family, should they need an expensive operation, you'd probably do whatever you could to find the money.
  
  Having adequate pet insurance won't just save you money at the vets either as many policies offer useful extras. Some can give you free legal advice should your dog damage property or bite the postman, while other policies will cover the cost of kennels should you need to go into hospital.
  
  

 

Halifax offers a complete range of pet insurance including cat insurance and dog insurance. Whatever you're looking for at Halifax we aim to give you a little extra. We can even provide home insurance and travel insurance cover too.