The UK Government must deliver “more support” for pet owners in the upcoming budget – as groundbreaking new research shows almost £1billion is spent by society dealing with illegal animal harm each year.
That’s the call from the RSPCA, who say the “staggering” new findings from the independent Animal Welfare Evidence Centre highlights that the government should support preventative efforts to stop many situations of animal harm arising in the first place.
New data suggests that societal spending on animal harm costs between £830 million to £991 million a year – with the bulk of that coming from the charitable sector, and public donation.
Amid this spend, many animal welfare charities already find themselves at breaking point.
And there is a stark warning that without urgent UK Government action to help charities with rising running costs, vital resources will be diverted away from frontline animal rescue to cover growing tax and operational burdens. There is a reminder that the animal welfare sector is offering a “crucial public service” itself.
Thomas Schultz-Jagow, Executive Director of Advocacy and Prevention, and Advisory Board Chair for the Evidence Centre, said:
“For the first time, we can now put a figure to the staggering financial toll that animal harm takes on Great Britain. And we can see it is the public carrying this burden – either through their taxes or through their generous donations to charities.
“Many animal welfare charities are already at breaking point, absorbing hundreds of millions of pounds in costs that would otherwise overwhelm stretched public services.
“But much of this spending is avoidable, or could be used in other ways for animals – because so many illegal harms perpetuated to pets, wildlife and farmed animals are preventable.
“That’s why it is imperative the UK Government doesn’t forget pet owners in its current budget, and offers them more support – and considers ways we can stop preventable animal harms from happening in the first place.”
The Evidence Centre’s second report – The cost of reported illegal animal abuse and neglect in Great Britain – has been prepared by WPI Economics; and is the first time ever the true financial impact of tackling animal harm has been calculated in this way.
The breakdown reveals that taxpayer-funded public bodies – including the police, courts, and local authorities – spend between £93 million and £141 million a year reacting to animal offences. Other public agencies also spend money on monitoring and enforcing. Meanwhile, donor-funded charities bear the vast majority of the financial burden, spending an estimated £730 million to £844 million annually, across emergency crisis response, care, and prevention work.
Researchers warn that these figures represent a lower-bound estimate, as unrecorded harm, unreported cruelty, and wider social costs are not currently captured.
And it comes as an enduring cost of living crisis continues to pile the pressure on pet owners.
The RSPCA’s own Animal Kindness Index has found that more than half (56%) of pet owners are worried about being able to afford vet bills, while almost one in five animal owners (18%) are worried about paying for pet food.
And ten percent of pet owners are now routinely using AI for advice and support in looking after their pet – raising fears that some are now skipping essential veterinary check-ups.
While many of the calls dealt with by RSPCA officers involve deliberate harm to animals, many concern situations of neglect that have spiralled as a result of a lack of timely veterinary intervention, or because cash-strapped pet owners are “burying their heads in the sand”.
The RSPCA says the UK Government must now intervene – and include support for struggling pet owners in its annual budget, to prevent animal neglect.
Providing targeted VAT relief on essential pet food and veterinary care, alongside statutory funding for community pet food banks and support for local authorities to deliver their statutory social care pet protection duties, such as providing temporary boarding or foster care when a solitary owner is suddenly admitted to the hospital, have been earmarked as potential solutions.
“We cannot simply react our way out of an animal welfare crisis – and more governmental support could really help owners before neglect happens in the first place,” Thomas added.
“The Prime Minister has said he’s prioritising quick wins to make people’s life easier. And we say targeted VAT relief on essential pet food and veterinary care, alongside supporting community pet food banks, and funding to help councils meet their social care pet protection obligations, would give struggling families an immediate lifeline. These must feature in the Chancellor’s upcoming budget.”
Alongside this urgent need for preventative support for the animal welfare sector, the RSPCA is warning that rescue charities themselves continue to experience a severe operational squeeze.
Many centres across the UK are operating at maximum capacity while contending with elevated energy bills, inflation on veterinary supplies, and higher running costs. Crucially, the charity sector is bracing for further strain following increases to Employer National Insurance Contributions (NICs) without explicit exemptions for animal welfare or charitable organisations.
Thomas added: “The animal welfare sector provides a crucial public service, taking in thousands of neglected animals that would otherwise fall to under-resourced local authorities.
“Yet, many charities must simultaneously battle with soaring running costs, veterinary inflation, and increased Employer National Insurance burdens.
“This new report highlights just how much resources the charity sector needs to put up to prevent harm – and it’s time the UK Government reviewed how it can protect charities, which act as society’s safety net, so as many of our resources as possible can go towards our core purposes.”
The RSPCA is also urging the Welsh Government to take action to protect pet owners amid the ongoing challenges.
