Crisis "Pet Poverty" Levels In Brighton, Says Charity

The charity supplying veterinary services to pets "in need" said today (October 22) that Brighton and Hove is facing "crisis levels of pet poverty".

Officials with PDSA — which provides free and low cost vet care for those who struggle to pay treatment costs for their sick and injured pets — said the financial impact of Covid-19 has led to an overwhelming number of enquiries from pet owners who have hit hard times since the start of lockdown.
 
The PDSA claimed more than 9,000 pets in Brighton have benefited from PDSA's free and low-cost vet care since the UK's initial Covid-19 lockdown began.
 
Sky Yates, Senior Vet at the PDSA Pet Hospital on Robertson Road in Brighton said:

"From March to September this year, we carried out 8,666 remote consultations, 184 essential and emergency operations and 339 x-rays for pets whose owners can no longer afford vet's fees.

"It's clear we're experiencing the start of a pet welfare crisis, as a result of Covid-19. 
 
"For many sick and injured pets, whose owners are struggling financially, the PDSA Pet Hospital in Brighton is their only emergency service."

Jan McLoughlin, PDSA Director General, added:

"This winter, we're facing the biggest challenge in our charity's history.

"We're experiencing unprecedented demand for our services.

"Since the start of lockdown, we have carried out more than 10,000 emergency and essential operations for pets in need across the UK. 

"During this time, pets have become more important than ever for so many people — providing companionship and comfort and alleviating isolation.

"But the financial impact of the pandemic is starting to bite.

"No pet owner should be faced with losing a beloved pet because they can no longer afford to pay for treatment.

"And no pet should suffer because of poverty.

"I've not known a pet care crisis like it in the 19 years I've been at PDSA."

PDSA is launching a Pet Care Crisis Emergency Appeal to raise vital funds so it can continue to care for pets whose owners now find themselves unable to pay for vet treatment.

Sky Yates stressed:

"Innocent pets shouldn't suffer as a result of their owner's hardship.

"I know that Brighton is a city of pet lovers and I hope people will support PDSA's Emergency Appeal so that together we can reduce the impact of pet poverty in the city caused by the pandemic."

The PDSA has placed on-line information about its work and funding: https://pdsa.org.uk/whywematter