Over 2 million consider buying a pet as a Christmas present

10:22am Friday 5th December 2008

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More than two million people (4% of the adult population) are thinking about buying a pet as a present for a friend or family member this Christmas, leading to concerns that some of these people may not have given enough consideration as to whether the recipients can afford to look after the pets properly.

The findings, from new research conducted for Petmeds (www.petmeds.co.uk), the leading online pet medication and pet products store, found that 7% of men and 2% of women are considering buying a pet for a loved one this Christmas. However, with pet owners already struggling to afford the rising cost of keeping animal in the current economic climate, the company is warning people not to buy a pet unless they are wholly prepared for the cost and responsibility of looking after them.

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Ricky Thomas, Managing Director of Petmeds, said: “Owning a pet is a huge responsibility and people need to be totally confident that they can care for it properly. Our research* shows that one in five pet owners are struggling to afford their animals’ upkeep, and 2% are considering abandoning them. The number of animals abandoned generally rises in the New Year and we are very worried that a combination of the tough financial climate, rising costs, and people buying pets as Christmas presents may lead to a record number of abandoned pets.”

The East Midlands, Anglia and the West Midlands are the areas of the country where you are most likely to be bought a pet for Christmas, with 6% of adults in these regions considering purchasing a pet as a present.

Region Percentage of adults considering buying a pet as a Christmas present this year Number of adults considering buying a pet as a Christmas present this year East Midlands & Anglia 6% 306,177 West Midlands 6% 250,112 North & North West 5% 389,613 South West & Wales 5% 311,916 Yorkshire & Humberside 4% 179,429 South East 3% 311,377 London 3% 171,434 Scotland 3% 124,884 Source: Petmeds.co.uk, 2008* Rodney Zasman, veterinary surgeon, said: “We would never advise the purchase of a pet as a gift unless you are sure it will be wanted and well looked-after. If you do find you are struggling to afford the costs of pet ownership, there are a number of charities which provide financial help. People can reduce pet costs without compromising their pets’ welfare, by sourcing pet food and medication from a reliable and trusted pet website.”

Petmeds has recently established an online and telephone advice forum where pet owners can get help and advice on ways to look after their animals and reduce costs. The service is staffed by trained animal experts and a team of vets who are on hand to help owners ensure they get the best treatment for their animals.