Record numbers of pets have been given up by owners to homes, and people say expensive vet costs are putting then off rehoming a rescue.
Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, 3.2 million households in the UK have acquired a pet.
But, new research from Co-op Insurance today reveals 12 per cent of consumers regret their pets and would consider leaving an unwanted pet at a rescue centre, with 160,000 of these already having been given up.
Rescue centres are bracing themselves for another 77 per cent of ‘pandemic pups’ to be given up this year.
Co-op Insurance has launched new pet insurance for dogs and cats over eight weeks old to help make adoption more affordable, with a discount on policies for those insuring a pet from a recognised animal charity or rescue centre.
The YouGov research also shows that 91 per cent of Brits looking for a pet would consider adopting from a rescue centre, however, 29 per cent are deterred as they believe they would be expensive to insure and care for.
Of the 51…
