00:00Blue Cross says the demand for rehoming has reached unprecedented levels, with Liverpool among the hardest-hit areas.
00:07The charity's research shows one in three owners are struggling or seriously worried about affording care,
00:13and one in ten have already surrendered a dog due to cost pressures.
00:18Rising energy, food and vet bills are driving these numbers,
00:22with nearly one in five owners unable to pay an unexpected £600 vet bill,
00:27rising to almost half if costs reach £3,500.
00:32Owners are making sacrifices to protect pets, with almost a quarter skipping food themselves and one in five cutting back
00:40on heating.
00:41Over the past four years, dogs arriving at Blue Cross centres have more than doubled from 658 to 1,462,
00:50and cats needing homes have risen by 80% to 3,314.
00:57Charitable teams report Newcastle, Liverpool, Bristol, Glasgow and Manchester as the areas where the pressure is most acute.
01:05The charity stresses the importance of early support to prevent unnecessary surrender,
01:10and urges people to plan for vet costs, while local rehoming centres work to meet the growing demand.
01:16Blue Cross said they are also commissioning further research to inform public policy
01:22and improve access to affordable pet care services, especially in high-pressure areas.
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