A leading dog welfare charity has warned of a crisis after record numbers of owners asked charities to take animals in.

Dogs Trust has warned that the sky-high cost of essentials, such as eating and heating, is leaving many dog owners unable to provide for their dogs.  

With adoption numbers dropping because people can’t afford to take on a new dog, this has the potential to lead to a housing crisis for the nation’s dogs. 

Owen Sharp, Dogs Trust CEO, said: “The UK is fast heading towards a situation in which, due to the cost of living crisis, we’ll have a surplus of dogs whose owners need to give them up, but a deficit of people who can afford to take on a new dog. 

“Dogs Trust is issuing an urgent call for emergency foster carers, especially people with experience of caring for big dogs, who can provide a port in a storm to a dog who, for the moment, has nowhere else to go."

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Local dog charity, Worcestershire Animal Rescue Shelter, has also felt the pressure that the cost of living has had on pet owners.

Amie Jones, Shelter Operations Manager, said: "Here at Worcester Animal Rescue Shelter, like many of us right now we have sadly seen and feel the effects of the current cost of living crisis.

"A lot of the relinquishment reasons have been due to financial difficulties and not having the resources to be able to get that help or moving from an owned property to rented due to a change in circumstance.

"In addition to this, after they are admitted into our care, a lot of the time people cannot afford to make donations towards the cost of their animal while they are with us.

"The volume of calls from the public who are not able to pay veterinary bills for their sick or injured animals is increasing therefore they are pushed into a very sad situation where they have to relinquish.

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"In addition to this, we have seen a huge rise in stray dogs, the last few months, and a lot of the time they are not microchipped or neutered, this then leads to further financial implications of a fine.

"We have a Shelter shop onsite which we are very fortunate to have, and we rely on the generosity of the public to be able to keep the shop stocked up. However, the last few months has seen a decline in donations, which are so valuable to us as the money raised helps towards the running costs of the Shelter."