Pooched too far: Energy costs force pet owners to cut back

PETS are having less spent on them as their owners cut back because of energy costs.

An estimated 220,000 adults in Scotland are reducing how much they spend on their pets due to the added cost of heating their homes, analysis from Citizens Advice Scotland found.

The charity estimates that, of the 48 per cent of adults who have had to reduce household spending, 10 per cent are cutting back on things such as dog grooming and vet visits because of rising bills.

The figures – described by the Dogs Trust as ‘heartbreaking’ – were calculated from a YouGov survey of more than 1,000 adults in November last year.

The Scottish SPCA said more than 4,000 people contacted its helpline last year to give up their pet, more than treble the number in 2021. Many cited financial difficulties.