Pensioners struggling to afford pets as cost of living continues to rise

Pensioner Rob Davies knows firsthand the struggles of affording pet food.

Over the past few years, the Mildura man has dedicated more of his budget towards feeding his two adult Jack Russell fox terriers, Bolt and Rahab, as pet food prices continue to climb.

Mr Davies said there were times when he could not afford to buy food for his furry “family” and had to seek alternative options including feeding them food he had bought for himself.

“I'd cook that up for them until it was pension day,” he said.

Mr Davies said worming and flea treatments also had to be missed if there was not enough money in the bank.

“Some weeks I couldn't buy it, so I'd wait until the next pay and the poor little fellas I could see them, and you know they've got worms,” he said.

Owners surrendering pets

The Victorian government's 2023 pet census showed that caring for one dog costs households about $3,664 a year, or about $70 a week.

RSPCA Victoria community outreach manager Lauren Roberts said many pet owners were struggling with the rising cost of living and as a result, the organisation was receiving an increased number of calls from people wanting to surrender their pet.

Dr Roberts said it receives about 600 calls a month.

“This can be for several reasons including moving house or moving overseas,” she said.

“However, another is an inability to afford the necessary veterinary treatment their pet requires, or simply being unable to meet the ongoing cost of caring for an animal as their circumstances have changed.”

Pet costs hitting seniors budgets

A 2023 report by insurance company Australian Seniors said one in three senior pet owners were finding it hard to provide for their pet's food and medical requirements.

It said more than half of those surveyed would reduce spending on takeaway and eating out to provide for their pet.

Health sciences lecturer Janette Young, who consulted on the report, said those aged 50-plus would cut back the amount spent on themselves to feed or better care for their pets.

“We've got this combo of increasingly desiring to spend more on animals and calls for quality care for animals but at the same time you're getting older and your ability to increase [your] income reduces.”

Emotional benefits

Dr Young said pets made a “real difference” in the lives of people, particularly seniors living on their own.

“The early work I did in this space, people started talking about not taking their own lives because of having a pet,” she said.

The Australia Seniors report said almost all respondents agreed that having a pet provided relational benefits such as unconditional love, affection, and companionship.

Mr Davies said he knew many others who relied on pets for emotional support.

“There's a lot of people out there, a lot of pensioners, that have their dogs for company like I do,” he said.

Community support initiatives

Mr Davies has found financial comfort by accessing a local pet food bank.

The RSPCA Victoria's Mildura Loves Pets program provides struggling pet owners in north-west Victoria with canned food and dry biscuits, as well as flea and worming treatment when available.

Dr Roberts said the pet food bank concept was something that could be expanded to help more people.

“Our community outreach team regularly get calls from people requesting support with pet food,” she said.

“Following the success of the Pet Food Bank in Mildura, RSPCA Victoria are looking at expanding this interim relief program across the state over the coming years.”