Faced with price increases, pet owners in the UK face difficult choices when it comes to offering the best treatments or a dignified farewell to their beloved pets.
“The way things are, gas, electricity, groceries, fuel, everything is difficult,” admits David Mcauliffe, who is sitting next to his wife, Julie Fielding, at the Holywell Pet Cemetery, in the northern part of the country. Wales.
Mcauliffe and Fielding live on social benefits. When their dog Khan died, they didn’t have the money to give him a dignified farewell and turned to a Facebook group to fund his cremation.
The group directs its members’ donations to families who would otherwise not be able to afford veterinary care for their pets or other expenses, such as cremations, which are increasingly expensive.
“Dogs depend on us for everything, and you have to do what’s necessary for them at the end of the day,” says Mcauliffe.
The UK inflation rate hit 10.1% in July and could reach 13% in October, a pace not seen in 40 years.
Animal feed and veterinary service costs rose, as did cremation service prices, due to rising fuel prices.
“Individual private cremation is when a pet is cremated alone, so the remains can be returned to the family to be scattered, buried or kept at home,” says Jason Ward, director general of the pet cemetery.
The price of the service depends on the size of the animal, but can be as high as 200 pounds ($240) for a medium-sized dog.
Otherwise, the body can be disposed of with those of other pets. “They are often collected in large vehicles from veterinary clinics, along with their clinical waste and other debris, for transport to a disposal center,” he says.
British society loves pets and this affection only grew during the pandemic lockdown periods, in which pets often proved to be the only company for many people.
“Members of the family”
This strong bond is demonstrated in the cemetery, where many lots serve as resting places for pets and their owners.
The remains of David’s mother and Julie’s sister lie next to Khan and Flash, a dog the family previously owned. “When the time comes, this is where we want to rest,” says the couple.
David and Julie, who now have a pair of dogs, Tyler and Sky, have been facing yearly increases in the cost of pet insurance and other expenses.
Cremation isn’t the only cost that has increased; the prices charged by veterinarians also increased.
“No matter how much you complain, the price of the policy goes up every year,” protests David, who calls for government intervention.
“This can become a problem, especially for people on welfare,” he adds.
It is usually in old age that animals need more veterinary care, and to this comes the cost of burial. Some homeowners have no choice but to forgo a dignified farewell.
Dogs, cats and other pets “are members of the family, they contribute enormously to our well-being, and during the pandemic everyone spent more time with their pets,” says Ward.
“So when the time of death comes and the owners can’t say a dignified goodbye, that’s another cause for grief,” he adds.
Translation by Paulo Migliacci
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