FIGURES from leading vet charity PDSA, which provides vital care for pets during the cost of living crisis, has revealed that 27 per cent of owners in the South West are having to make personal sacrifices to ensure they can continue to provide for their pets.

The charity has warned these unsettling findings reflect the stark reality for pet owners, many of whom are being forced to make drastic cutbacks as they desperately struggle to stay afloat.

A worrying 14 per cent of owners in the South West are cutting back on their weekly food shop, and three per cent even admit to going without necessities, such as skipping meals, to afford the costs associated with looking after their beloved companions.

PDSA provides free and low-cost treatment to pets in need and has released the data to raise awareness of the lengths pet owners are having to resort to while navigating the cost of living crisis.

A total of 14per cent of pet owners in the South West are reducing how much fuel they use so they can pay for their pets care. 

This comes as Google searches for “save money on heating” spiked by a shocking 878 per cent in 2022.

Having juggled expensive bills throughout winter, alongside the soaring cost of living, owners may face a further hit this April. 

While the energy price cap is being reduced, meaning the amount suppliers can charge goes down, government help – in the form of the energy price guarantee – is set to come to an end. 

This means a household's energy bills could increase by around £3,000 per year.

The looming spring Budget announcement also isn’t expected to go a long way in easing the strain on UK pet owners’ pockets. 

The huge hike in everyday living costs means pet owners will continue to struggle with the cost of loving their companions. 

A total of 44 per cent of owners in the South West are worried about affording the cost of treatment if their pet should fall ill or be injured – making PDSA’s support crucial. 

Nationally, a quarter of all pet owners (26 per cent) said they would go into debt, either with family and friends or via credit and loans, to cover the cost of unexpected veterinary treatment. 

Yet, 95 per cent of people are determined to do whatever possible in order to avoid having to make the agonising decision of rehoming them or having them put to sleep – primarily due to the ever-increasing costs to live.

PDSA relies on donations to deliver life-saving treatment to hundreds of thousands of pets across its 48 Pet Hospitals in the UK. 

To help keep pets and people together, the charity is urgently calling on the public’s support to prevent vulnerable people having to make a truly heart-breaking decision. 

To find out more about PDSA’s vital work during the cost of loving crisis, or to donate, visit: www.pdsa.org.uk/costoflovingcrisis .