Disturbing find in abandoned shopping bag highlights consequences of cost of living crisis

A dead dog found in a plastic bag lying in a field shows how the cost of living crisis can lead families to abandon their pets.

A dog walker discovered a “very thin” Jack Russell puppy inside the shopping bag.

While the incident occurred in South Yorkshire in the UK, the RSPCA said increasing pet abandonment was equally worrying in Australia.

“Times are tough right now, but we always urge animal owners facing costs to seek help,” he said in a statement.

According to the RSPCA of Western Australia, there has been a significant increase in pet owners looking to surrender their pets during the first three months of 2024.

In WA, 346 people applied to surrender their pets in the first three months of this year; an increase of 44 percent compared to the same period last year.

Many pet surrenders occurred because owners experienced financial difficulties, struggled to find pet-friendly housing, or faced homelessness.

Just three weeks ago, a man surrendered his Jack Russell because he couldn’t find pet-friendly accommodation after becoming homeless, RSPCA WA spokesperson Hannah Dreaver said.

“As an older man, I had the choice of sleeping rough with 12-year-old Flossy and feeling unsafe for both of them, or having the opportunity to spend the night in a bed,” he said. ‘

“What a heartbreaking and horrible situation to be in. I really feel for (him), but I’m so glad he reached out and that we can give him some comfort knowing that Flossy will be well taken care of.”

RSPCA WA chief executive Ben Cave said he was ‘“The worrying neglect of those basic needs is only going to increase.”

“If you can no longer care for your animals as they deserve, you should seek help as soon as possible.”

RSPCA WA found that 78 per cent of the 1,300 people surveyed for its pet census noticed pet food prices rising. This caused 20 percent to switch to cheaper pet food and 34 percent to spend less on themselves.