Rising Costs of Pet Ownership Due to Tariffs Lead to Increased Shelter Surrenders
Iowa City, Iowa — Pet owners now face steep costs. Tariffs raise prices for pet food and supplies. This change forces many owners into hard decisions. Shelters see these changes as a direct root of more pet surrenders.
Forbes reports that owning a dog costs about $34,550 by age 10. For cats, expenses can add up to $32,170 by age 16. Devon Strief, the animal services coordinator at the Iowa City Animal Care and Adoption Center, says, "The number was actually really mind-blowing to me." Here, the cost of care links closely to the decision to keep a pet.
Tariffs, set by earlier policies, push up the price of basic pet items. This pressure, felt by households already in trouble, makes each extra cost hit harder. Darlene Olshansky, a pet trainer and volunteer, notes that new pet owners often miss these hidden costs. They bring a pet home, then learn that expenses add up. As a result, many pets end up with shelters.
Today’s economic strains—job losses and housing worries—tighten family budgets. Families need both vet care and food. When extra expenses attach to these needs, problems multiply. Strief warns that these rising costs will likely lead to even more surrenders at shelters.
Strief also points out that shelters now struggle to care for all the pets. Many shelters brim with animals. They lack enough cages or kennels to house them safely. This shortfall is unfair for both the animals and the staff who must care for them.
The Iowa City Animal Care and Adoption Center now asks future pet owners to think carefully. They urge people to learn every cost before adopting a pet. Strief explains that a well-planned choice can keep the chain of extra expenses—and resulting surrenders—from growing.
Communities, now more than ever, must support local shelters. By understanding and sharing the true cost of pet care, each person helps reduce the burden on families and shelters alike.
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