Fire and rescue services in England are reporting a significant rise in call-outs to attend to abandoned pets, as charities warn longer-term cost-of-living pressures are increasingly resulting in pet abandonment. Figures show that over the past five years the rate of animal-rescue incidents handled by fire crews has grown markedly, a trend that experts link to soaring food, vet and ownership costs.
According to official data disclosed by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), veterinary-treatment costs last month were nearly 50 % higher than in 2020. Meanwhile, the average price of a can of dog food rose from 60p to £1.03 over the same period. These cost-pressures have been identified by welfare organisations as central factors behind an uptick in pet surrender and abandonment, especially among animals acquired during the pandemic who remain unprepared for the long-term care commitments.
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) received a record 22,503 reports of animal abandonment last year, the organisation said. Meanwhile the fire services across England noted a 27 % rise in animal rescue call-outs over the last five years, with a 38 % increase for incidents involving domestic pets. In the year to June 2025 there were 3,462 domestic animal rescues nationwide—more than a third of which occurred in London alone. In London, the cost borne by the fire brigade for animal call-outs climbed to £686,475 in that year, up from £261,253 in 2020.
Within that surge, some regional services have recorded especially sharp jumps. For example, across Essex fire and rescue services, the volume of animal rescues rose by around 84 % over five years. Operational trainer Paul Jones of the Essex fire and rescue team noted that “We rescue animals to prevent members of the public from putting themselves in danger. Our firefighters train regularly for a wide range of rescue scenarios … while these incidents can take time and resources, they are part of our commitment to keeping our communities, and their pets, safe.”
Charities say the crisis stems both from increased pet-ownership and the financial strain that owners now face. The Pet Food Manufacturers’ Association estimates that 3.2 million households in the UK took on a pet during the pandemic years. But many did so without fully anticipating the long-term costs. The PDSA, a veterinary charity, has warned that caring for a cat over its lifetime (excluding illness or injury) can cost some £11,000.
Another dimension is the escalating cost structure within the veterinary sector. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is investigating the sector amid findings that owners paid on average 16.6 % more for treatment at large vet groups compared to independents. The watchdog has suggested that the current regulatory system—designed to oversee individual vets rather than businesses—is no longer fit for purpose.
Meanwhile, the charity Cats Protection notes that while younger, more affluent owners are increasingly keeping pedigree cats indoors and not neutering them, stray animals and unwanted litters are still major reasons for cats entering their care. They assert that lower neutering rates are contributing to the burden of unwanted animals.
Together, these developments paint a picture of growing stress on both emergency services and animal welfare organisations. The combination of increased pet ownership, inflation-driven cost surges and the pandemic-era influx of new animals has created a perfect storm in which many owners, faced with financial hardship, are choosing or forced to abandon their pets. Fire and rescue services, charities, and veterinary sectors are all calling for urgent attention to the structural issues around pet-care costs, regulation and public awareness.
As owners navigate rising bills, welfare groups are urging tougher regulation, greater transparency in the veterinary sector, and stronger support systems for pet owners—especially those who acquired animals during the pandemic without full foresight of the commitment involved. The rise in animal rescues is not just an operational burden for fire services but a social signal that the cost-of-living crisis is now extending into unexpected corners of domestic life, including the welfare of companion animals.
