How Rising Expenses Are Affecting Pet Care
Wednesday 8th, October 2025
As living costs continue to climb around the world, it is not only people who are feeling the strain. Pet owners in many countries are finding it increasingly difficult to cover the cost of veterinary treatment, leading to tough decisions about their animals’ health and wellbeing.
In Ireland, the Irish Blue Cross has seen a sharp rise in demand for its low-cost veterinary services. The charity currently has more than 1,400 pets on its waiting list, as families struggle to pay for essential care.
Fundraising manager Paul Halpin said that the pressure on the organisation has reached unprecedented levels.
The Irish Blue Cross, founded in 1945, treats around 16,000 sick and injured pets each year. Its mobile clinics travel across Dublin each weeknight, providing vital veterinary services for owners who might otherwise be unable to afford them.
Rising prices for food, energy, and rent have left many people struggling to balance household budgets. For pet owners, this often means difficult choices between caring for themselves and caring for their animals. Similar challenges are being reported by animal welfare charities across Europe, North America, and beyond, where shelters and clinics are under increasing pressure.
One Irish pet owner living with multiple sclerosis described how her cat Kismet became her lifeline during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Her story reflects a wider truth: for millions of people, pets are not just animals, they are companions, sources of comfort, and often part of the family. When financial hardship strikes, access to affordable veterinary care can make all the difference.
The work of organisations such as the Irish Blue Cross shows how vital these services are. As costs continue to rise, animal welfare charities everywhere are appealing for public support to ensure no pet has to go without care, and no owner is forced to choose between their wellbeing and their companion’s life.
In Ireland, the Irish Blue Cross has seen a sharp rise in demand for its low-cost veterinary services. The charity currently has more than 1,400 pets on its waiting list, as families struggle to pay for essential care.
Fundraising manager Paul Halpin said that the pressure on the organisation has reached unprecedented levels.
“Eighty years on, our mission remains as urgent as ever and we’re seeing huge demand. Without additional support, we simply cannot be there for every pet that needs us,” Mr Halpin said.
“Today, amid the cost-of-living crisis, our clinics and mobile units are overwhelmed, with over 1,400 pets currently on the waiting list for veterinary treatment. Every donation, no matter how small, makes a big difference.”
The Irish Blue Cross, founded in 1945, treats around 16,000 sick and injured pets each year. Its mobile clinics travel across Dublin each weeknight, providing vital veterinary services for owners who might otherwise be unable to afford them.
Rising prices for food, energy, and rent have left many people struggling to balance household budgets. For pet owners, this often means difficult choices between caring for themselves and caring for their animals. Similar challenges are being reported by animal welfare charities across Europe, North America, and beyond, where shelters and clinics are under increasing pressure.
One Irish pet owner living with multiple sclerosis described how her cat Kismet became her lifeline during the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Without my cat Kismet, I would not be here. He’s my family,” she said. “He’s 15 years old and I only adopted him a short while before Covid, and it’s like he was meant to be here with me, that’s why he’s called Kismet [meaning fate].
“He was fundamental in my mental health during Covid. He is the most adoring and affectionate cat I’ve ever had, but he has kidney disease and a heart murmur and as I can’t work due to my MS, I’m only on disability allowance, and I couldn’t afford to get the care that he needs without the Irish Blue Cross.
“A lot of people in my position would have had to give their pet up or have them put down, so I’m grateful to the Irish Blue Cross, they have been a lifeline for so many.”
Her story reflects a wider truth: for millions of people, pets are not just animals, they are companions, sources of comfort, and often part of the family. When financial hardship strikes, access to affordable veterinary care can make all the difference.
The work of organisations such as the Irish Blue Cross shows how vital these services are. As costs continue to rise, animal welfare charities everywhere are appealing for public support to ensure no pet has to go without care, and no owner is forced to choose between their wellbeing and their companion’s life.