More pets being abandoned or surrendered as unexpected health expenses and cost-of-living pressures bite

The number of pets being abandoned or surrendered to shelters is growing as Australian owners struggle with unexpected health expenses amid rising cost of living pressures.

And people are adopting pets from shelters with unknown medical histories and often pre-existing conditions, all leading to unexpected costs.

Compounded with cost-of-living increases, financial stress has led to a large number of pet abandonments and surrenders to animal shelters — with more than 81,000 animals entering RSPCA shelters nationally in 2023-2024, according to the latest data.

Sydney local Liam said he understood how unsuspecting owners can be hit by substantial medical costs, after his six-month-old puppy, RJ, became sick in June.

“I noticed he started getting sick one day, he wasn’t feeling quite himself, he wasn’t eating, and he was lethargic, so my partner and I started to worry,” Liam said.

Liam rushed the miniature dachshund to an emergency vet an hour away from their home.

The vet team suspected he had an obstruction in his gastrointestinal tract.

“They kept him overnight and gave him fluids, and that alone came to a little over $2000,” he said.

Liam and his partner were recommended to take RJ to a vet closer to home, where they were told the total cost of the surgery and scans would put them out about $7000 — and that an upfront deposit of 70 per cent was required.

However, further issues began a few days later when RJ was again rushed back to emergency and underwent a second surgery for infected stitches.

“He was basically about to go into septic shock,” Liam said.

“He was in a really bad way.”

RJ pulled through and, after a week recovering at the vet, he was able to go home — leaving Liam and his partner with another $14,000 bill.

The total cost of the vet visits was approximately $23,000, and Liam and his partner wondered what they would have done without their pet insurance.

“We could not have afforded it, it’s not even plausible,” Liam said.

“Unfortunately, the case would have been we would have just had to have put him down. You can’t put yourself into financial debt. But thankfully, we did have pet insurance

“He would not be around any more if it wasn’t for Petsy.”

Petsy pet insurance founder Monica Limanto said animal shelters do an “amazing job rescuing, assessing and caring for household animals” however certain health issues might not be picked up.

“Most will provide health checks, vaccinations, parasite treatments and even behavioural assessments,” she said.

“But it’s important for adopters to understand that some chronic conditions, particularly in older pets, may not be immediately obvious.”

Data shows illnesses make up 70 per cent of approved or partially approved claims, according to the pet insurer.

Among illness-related claims, digestive and gastrointestinal disorders are the most common at 23 per cent, followed by skin disorders at 14 per cent and ear conditions at 9 per cent.

Respiratory and urinary issues, as well as eye disorders growths and cysts also frequent customer claims.

Blood disorders, neurological, hormonal and oral health problems make up the remainder of the list.

“It’s good practice to find out if treatment for any health conditions will be an out-of-pocket cost before signing the adoption papers,” Limanto said.

“Asking questions up-front, and speaking to your insurer during a cooling off period, can help avoid surprises down the track.”

Companion Animal Network Australia (CANA) reported an 11.6 per cent increase in pet surrenders in the 2024 financial year.

Data from RSPCA also highlighted the number of animals being returned to shelters in 2023-2024 peaked at more than 1600.

Unlucky pets that are not being dropped at shelters are instead being found abandoned on the streets.

Abandoning a pet — includes going away on holiday or moving house and leaving a pet behind to fend for itself, or deliberately dumping an unwanted animal at the roadside or in the bush — is an offence under the Animal Care and Protection Act.

The maximum penalty for people convicted of unreasonable abandonment or release is $50,070.00 or one year imprisonment.

The RSPCA said the average dog costs less than $20 a week to keep, however, these costs could increase due to illness.

Pet owners have been encouraged to consider their options such as payment solutions such as VetPay, purchasing pet insurance, negotiate a payment plan with vets, seek a second opinion and consider buying generic brand medications.