RSPCA says Budget leaves pet owners without help as vet bills bite

The RSPCA and Dogs Trust say the Autumn Budget ignored calls for VAT relief on vet care and pet food, as new figures show most owners are worried about affording treatment.

The RSPCA and Dogs Trust have said they are disappointed that the UK Government's Autumn Budget contained nothing to help pet owners struggling with costs, at a time when charities say they are being left to pick up the bill.

What the charities wanted

Before the Budget, the two charities had asked ministers for specific help for pet owners and the organisations that support them.

Providing targeted VAT relief on essential pet food and veterinary care, alongside statutory funding for community pet food banks and support for local authorities to deliver their statutory social care pet protection duties, had been earmarked as potential lifelines for pet owners.

None of that made it into the final Budget. The RSPCA says the UK Government must now intervene and include support for struggling pet owners in its annual budget, to prevent animal neglect.

Most pet owners are now worried about affording basic vet care, according to the RSPCA's own data.

How worried are owners

The scale of the problem comes from the RSPCA's Animal Kindness Index, a regular survey of pet owners across Great Britain.

The RSPCA's own Animal Kindness Index has found that more than half (56%) of pet owners are worried about being able to afford vet bills, while almost one in five animal owners (18%) are worried about paying for pet food.

The RSPCA's Thomas Schultz-Jagow, Executive Director of Advocacy and Prevention, said it was "disappointing that another UK Government budget has failed to include any specific measures to help pet owners" at a time when animal welfare is under pressure.

Why charities are under pressure too

It is not only owners who are feeling the squeeze. Many centres across the UK are operating at maximum capacity while contending with elevated energy bills, inflation on veterinary supplies, and higher running costs.

Despite this, charities are being left to absorb sky-high operational costs, rising vet bills, and heavier Employer National Insurance liabilities completely on their own following this budget.

The RSPCA says donor-funded charities already spend an estimated £730 million to £844 million annually on emergency crisis response, care and prevention work, money that increasingly has to stretch further as both running costs and demand for help rise. The charity is also urging the Welsh Government to take action to protect pet owners amid the ongoing challenges.

What this means for you

If you are worried about an upcoming vet bill, it is worth asking your practice early about payment options, and checking whether you might qualify for help from a charity such as PDSA, Blue Cross or your local RSPCA branch. You can compare treatment prices at thevetbill.co.uk before you commit to a course of treatment.