RSPCA WA reports a significant increase in animal cruelty cases throughout the 2023-24 financial year, and claim it is linked to the state’s cost of living crisis.

RSPCA Western Australia is concerned about a significant increase in reports of pets suffering from a lack of basic necessities, such as proper food, medical care and shelter, as pet owners struggle to make ends meet.

Rather than abandoning their pets outright, many pet owners are trying to keep their animals but are unable to provide them with the care they need, leading to what RSPCA WA calls “silent suffering”.

RSPCA WA executive manager of media, marketing and PR Louise Rowe said the situation was becoming increasingly dire as families faced difficult decisions around household expenses.

“While we understand people may be struggling financially, but that is never an excuse to let animals suffer,” she said.

According to RSPCA WA, reports of pets being abused by their owners rose by 19 per cent, compared to an 18 per cent increase the year before.

Reports of animals lacking adequate food and water increased by 25 per cent. The number of abandoned and relinquished pets surged by 23 per cent compared to last year, with many pet owners citing financial difficulties as the main reason for relinquishing their animals.

Of the more than 1300 respondents to RSPCA WA’s 2024 Pet Census, 78 per cent said they had noticed an increase in the cost of pet food in the past 12 months, and 58 per cent saw an increase in the cost of veterinary services.

Twenty per cent of respondents said they were buying cheaper pet food, and 34 per cent said they had reduced their own spending in order to afford to care for their pet.

The costs of owning a pet, including food, veterinary care, vaccinations and other necessities, can quickly add up to thousands of dollars each year. For many facing soaring rents, rising utility bills and overall financial instability, pet ownership has become unaffordable.

Perth-based behaviour veterinarian Kate Lindsey, who has many years of experience in practice, confirmed that many pet owners are struggling to afford even basic medical care for their pets, a situation that has worsened over the past year.

“With the rising cost of living, I see more and more clients looking for alternative solutions to manage their pets’ healthcare costs,” she said

“Many people choose less diagnostic tests or cheaper treatments. Sadly, more and more pet owners are considering rehoming their pets because they feel they can’t keep up with the associated costs.”

Katherine Smith was a clerical worker at a mine. She was laid off at in early 2024. Her pet dog is four years old.

“Before I lost my original job, I was fully able to afford the treatment of my pet. But now I feel that it has become a large part of my life,” she said.

“I rarely go out for entertainment, and ask vets for various treatment options, trying to subtract some less important items. I don’t want to abandon my dog, but after it, I don’t think I will keep a pet again.” 

Dogs’ Refuge Home’s digital marketing coordinator Jasmin Suter, said the shelter has recently seen a significant increase in the number of abandoned pets. “We are stretched to our limits with kennels, our foster homes are full and our volunteers are exhausted, ” he said.

A spokesperson for Wish Animal Rescue Inc Committee said, “The situation is worse now than ever before. 100 per cent we are all under extreme pressure with surrenders due to negligence, ignorance, selfishness and most of all greed.”