Canadians are facing tough decisions as the cost of living continues to skyrocket, and that also affects families with furry friends.
Nobody wants to give up their pets but as people move around they can sometimes find themselves in a situation where they can’t find pet friendly housing, which could be a result of the high cost of living.
“The data on the annual expense for dog ownership in Canada from 2021 to 2024 shows a steady increase from $2,450 to $3,020, indicating a notable rise of 23.3 per cent over four years,” stated a new report by financial site HelloSafe. HelloSafe compiled data from StatsCan and HelloSafe partners to provide data as of Jan. 2024.
With food being the highest cost for dogs, HelloSafe said the biggest dog breeds now require food at an average of $2,640 in 2024, with the smallest breeds only chewing through $525 this year.
Regular vet visits for larger breeds will also cost twice as much compared to smaller breeds whose bills average $250.
The Alberta Pound and Rescue Centre (APARC) in Airdrie said they receive up to 10 calls a day sometimes to inquire about surrendering a pet a person can no longer house.
“We probably get five to 10 calls sometimes a day [from] people calling…” said Tara Wingenbach, APARC’s animal service coordinator. “Because of housing, they have to find a different place and they don't allow pets and ask if we can take their pets.”
She explained that APARC is a lost and found shelter contracted by the City of Airdrie and doesn’t take surrendered pets.
“APARC’s mission statement is to reunite lost pets within the Airdrie city limits to their owners,” Wingenbach said. Any animals they have up for adoption were found but not reclaimed after a certain period of time, she added.
Typically, APARC redirects pet owners looking to surrender their pets to the Cochrane or Calgary Humane Society or Tails to Tell in Crossfield.
Calgary’s Humane Society noted that pet surrenders due to not finding pet friendly housing were up [100] per cent in 2023 over 2022. In 2022 they had 60 animals surrendered due to no pet housing, compared to 120 in 2023.
While they couldn’t provide a specific number for how many of those came from Airdrie, they did state they get calls from Airdrie and other surrounding communities.
The cost to house pets also has an impact on shelters, but APARC, a nonprofit charity, relies on donations to keep the pound operational.
“I have to say that the citizens of Airdrie have been phenomenal to us,” Wingenbach said. “We just have to make a call out on our Facebook page if we need more linens or cat food or whatever, and I'm telling you, the City of Airdrie citizens have just been amazing and they've always come through to us and we are very fortunate.”
Pet stores in Airdrie will often donate expired and unopened dog and cat food to use.
The City’s generosity has helped the Pound and Rescue continue their work without being affected too much by cost issues, Wingenbach said.
The cost of cats
While Crossfield’s Tails to Tell cat shelter hasn’t seen much of an uptick in owner surrenders over the past few years due to affordability concerns, it does get a lot of requests for surrendering cats that aren’t always for financial reasons, said Anita Helmer, Tails to Tell's animal care coordinator,.
“I wouldn’t say it’s a financial issue, I would say it’s more that [people] just don’t want to deal with their pet issue,” Helmer said.
“Sometimes they're moving or their circumstances change,” she said, adding it can also be due to behavioural issues after already taking their cats to the vet.
Most recently, a local senior surrendered a cat because she could not afford surgery on her cat, according to Helmer.
“Most people are pretty responsible and know that pet care and vet bills are expensive, and so they go into that with their eyes wide open,” Helmer explained.
She noted that Tails to Tell uses a vet in Airdrie who provides good discounts to the shelter. The cat shelter is also part of a food program that provides them with discounted food.
Overall, processed food has only seen a slight increase in price, according to Helmer, and with so many options to choose from it’s still possible to find quality food at cheaper prices.
For those looking at adopting a cat, Helmer said new owners should consider all the costs associated with owning a cat.
“Getting a cat spayed is like $400 and getting the first set of shots is expensive; it could be a couple hundred,” she said. “Keep in mind, [a] cat could have an accident, it could jump and break its leg, it could have any sort of illness that could come up, right?”
Helmer said after a cat is spayed and neutered, owners are paying at least $500 per year.
While owners don't have to buy the most expensive pet food, she added that buying the cheapest brand could cause health issues and vet visits down the road.
“To anybody that’s really struggling financially, I would not suggest getting a cat,” Helmer said. “Once people adopt, keep in mind, it's not free. Animals get sick. Things happen. They get injured.”
