Pet Ownership at Risk: Tariffs Raise Concerns About Surrendering Animals to Shelters
By Jen Reeder, Contributor
April 16, 2025
Households in the United States face rising living costs. Tariffs add extra strain. Pet owners worry. Pet care costs grow. Many fear they will surrender animals to shelters.
Rising Costs of Pet Care
People keep pets for friendship. Owning a pet costs money. A ten‐year dog may cost about $34,550 in its life. A sixteen‐year cat may cost near $32,170. These numbers show a pet owner must spend money over time.
Tariffs, first set during the Trump era, push prices higher. Tori Fugate works for Shelter Animals Count. She tracks shelter numbers. She tells us the economy stresses pet care. She says, “The economy has already pushed pet surrenders upward. Extra strain from tariffs may worsen it.” Rising prices force many to let go of their pets.
Pet Owners Voice Their Concerns
A Rover survey, called the True Cost of Pet Parenthood Report for 2025, shows fears among pet owners. Over half worry tariffs will raise pet care costs. More than one in four already struggle to meet pet needs. One in three cuts back on essentials.
These facts add to the stress felt by many pet families. Price hikes in food, grooming, and vet visits may force hard choices. Many worry they must give up their pets.
Shelters Brace for Increased Surrenders
Animal shelters prepare for more animals. Their resources are few, and they worry about rising numbers. Shelter advocates warn that more surrenders could overwhelm them. They fear for many pets if the trend grows.
Pet care is a hard challenge for families. For those who see pets as family, surrender is painful. But hard economic facts are forcing choices. Many fear the cost will push pets into shelters.
Conclusion
Tariffs make the economy uncertain. Rising costs for pet care add more worry. Communities and organizations must work together. They need to support pet owners and help shelters. No pet should suffer because of high costs. Keeping pets in loving homes depends on solving these economic problems.
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