Within One Year, Food Prices Rose 10.3% in the US, 8.4% in the UK, and 8.8% in the EU
26.1% of Domestic Survey Respondents Have Considered Giving Up or Abandoning Childcare
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Sung-wook] It has been revealed that pet abandonment is rapidly increasing due to the global surge in inflation. Rising prices of pet supplies and food, known as "petflation (pet + inflation)," along with concerns about an economic downturn, are causing pet owners to give up on raising their pets.
On the 23rd (local time), the British BBC reported this fact, citing Susan Telepski, who runs the animal shelter "Lost Dogs' Home" in Melbourne, Australia. The shelter cares for hundreds of abandoned animals, and the number of animals is steadily increasing.
In the case of "Charcoal," a 4-year-old Neapolitan Mastiff recently admitted to the shelter, the owners reportedly gave up because they no longer had the means to care for the pet. Susan estimated that the annual cost of feeding Charcoal amounts to 1,600 Australian dollars (approximately 1.46 million KRW).
Susan said, "There are 500 animals in our shelter," adding, "We feel the hardship in purchasing pet supplies, filling food, and ensuring the health of all animals." She added, "It is very sad that people have to choose between their pets and their children," noting, "Some people have reached this situation."
According to the BBC, in Australia, pet abandonment has increased and adoption rates have decreased since last year. This trend is believed to have become more pronounced recently due to rising living costs and pet food prices caused by inflation, unemployment, and concerns about an economic recession. Rebecca Lininger of the Australian pet welfare organization Paws pointed out that financial pressure is "driving people into desperate situations."
The rise in pet food prices is a global issue. Pet food contains meat, grains, and trace nutrients, and prices have surged recently. According to Pet Age, the rate of increase in pet food prices between June last year and June this year was 10.3% in the United States, 8.4% in the United Kingdom, and 8.8% in the European Union (EU).
In South Korea as well, concerns about giving up pet care due to petflation are deepening. According to Danawa on the 14th of last month, the lowest price of Nestl? Purina's imported pet food product "Alpo for Adult Dogs Over 1 Year (10kg)" rose by 22.6% from 29,780 KRW in October last year to 36,530 KRW. Another brand, Royal Canin's "Mini Indoor Adult (8.7kg)" product price also increased by 16.6%, from 62,480 KRW in October last year to 72,900 KRW.
In the same survey, 26.1% of respondents who own pets answered that they have considered "giving up or abandoning their pets." The most common reason was "behavioral problems such as property damage and barking" at 27.8%, but "higher-than-expected expenses" ranked second at 22.2%, highlighting the visible pressure from rising pet food prices.
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