Tag: pet food

Rescue dog crisis as 3.4m Brits give away pets

Five ways to save money with pet costs at an all-time high

·       3.4m Brits have given away pets this year as costs soar

·       As price of pet products reaches all-time high, animal experts offer their money saving tips from tooth brushing to how to get the cheapest pet food

The price of owning a pet is on the rise, with inflation on pet products, such as food, health items and treats, up a massive 85% since 2015.

Pet food costs in particular have seen a stark rise, with shoppers hitting out at high price increases in supermarkets such as Tesco, Asda and Morrisons. The cost of pet care has also increased by 10% in the last year.

3.4m Brits made the heartbreaking decision to give up a pet in the last year, with rising costs a key factor. Trusted Housesitters, who provide pet sitting services, has looked into the data and offered five money saving tips for pet owners who may be struggling with costs.

1.      Research different pet foods

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Pet food can be one of the largest outgoings when owning a pet. Whilst some dogs and cats have sensitive stomachs, for many, putting them onto different food can be a great way to save money. Make sure you do your research and look at the ingredients – there are many reasonable priced brands which could save a lot. There are also price comparison supermarket apps, such as Trolley, so you can see where has the best prices on that day. Buying in bulk could also save you in the long run.

2.      Brush your pet’s teeth

A study into dog’s teeth showed that 85% of dogs over 4 years old have periodontal disease[1], which results in infections and inflammation of the gums.  Keeping your pet’s teeth clean can help to avoid hefty vet bills, brushing your cat or dog’s teeth every day (or at least twice weekly) can keep them healthy, which will save you money in the long run. 

3.      Learn to groom

Pet grooming is vital in making sure they stay healthy and comfortable, however it can be costly, at £43 on average a session, which can increase depending on the dog. If you are able to, learning to groom them at home can be a good money saving exercise. Think of things like clipping their nails, trimming their coats and cleaning around the eyes and ears, there are many helpful online sources which can help and if you are worried, or it can be impossible due to the breed then please do visit a groomer.

4.      Don’t skip the vet visits

Make sure your dog stays fit and active, has plenty of clean water and don’t skip your vet visits, as it could lead to them catching things early, which otherwise may cost a lot to fix. Going every 3-6 months for a health visit could be life changing. You could also ask your vet about payment plans to spread the cost of any treatment.

5.      Stick with tough dog toys

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Whilst fluffy teddies may be cute, they often don’t last long with a dog involved! Durable, good quality toys will last longer, saving you money in the long run by outlasting cheaper alternatives.

For more useful advice on owning a pet, please visit:

https://www.trustedhousesitters.com/blog/

Morrisons donates 500,000 meals to pet rescue centres

Morrisons has announced it will be donating over half a million meals to local pet rescue centres to help feed the nation’s cats and dogs – after demand for pet food has surged during lockdown.

Last year saw an unprecedented rise in pet ownership. With more of us at home than ever before, the desire for a companion reached peak levels with over two million dogs alone bought between March and September.

However, with millions more cats and dogs to feed in households up and down the UK, the need for pet food has dramatically increased.

In response to the increase in demand, Morrisons will set aside half a million meals in an effort to support local animal shelters – and to ensure no four-legged friend is left behind. Its network of ‘’Community Champions’ will work closely with their local shelters to distribute the meals up and down the UK.

Many animal shelters have been struggling through lack of funding and the economic fallout of Covid-19. And as hope for summer and a return to normality grows, animal shelters are facing the risk of more pets needing rehoming as their owners can no longer meet their needs.

Faye Atkins, Pet Food Buyer at Morrisons said: “Throughout the pandemic, our focus has been on feeding the nation, so it only felt right to support those pets who may not have found their forever home just yet as well.

“We hope this donation will go some way to supporting the many shelters doing a fantastic job looking after some of our most vulnerable animals”.

Earlier this week, Morrisons announced it is working closely with its suppliers as they invest in increasing their capacity. Whilst there is not 100% full availability in stores, there remains plenty of stock for all its customers and their new pets.