Nearly a third of Brits have given up a pet; almost three quarters of which say they did not want to but felt they had no other choice, according to new research by Woodgreen Pets Charity. 

The survey of 1,000 pet owners found that a third have given up a pet at some point, with bereavement, unemployment, ill health, and financial pressures among the key reasons behind the heartbreaking decision.

This is not for a lack of love for their pet. Over 70% of owners said that they would be willing to go into debt to care for their pet, and just over one in five would sacrifice the food on their table. Being separated from their pet is often a last resort for owners, but one that too many are being forced to face.

Woodgreen is urgently calling for greater support and compassion for owners facing hardship, challenging the judgment and stigma that currently prevails around giving up a pet.

The charity is famous for Channel 4’s 'The Dog House', which pairs people with dogs in need of a new home, but claims shelter alone is not enough to support the scale and complexity of the challenges faced by pet owners. Instead, Woodgreen provides inclusive support to owners to prevent their pets ending up as rescues – redefining what pet rescue actually means.

According to the charity's findings, nearly half of all owners didn't know that support was available which could have helped them keep their pets during difficult times – something Woodgreen says reflects its own experience supporting owners in crisis and what it intends to change. 

Linda Cantle, Director of Pet Services at Woodgreen Pets Charity, said: “It shouldn’t be the norm that people must part from their beloved pets. We see so many people who believe they’ve run out of road and feel they have no choice but to give up their companion unnecessarily.

“We’ve seen countless cases of cherished pets requiring expensive veterinary care or behavioural training, and people going without food to try to afford it – and ultimately failing. We offer help for all these issues and want more people to be aware they can reach out to us for support.

“Many owners are scared to ask for help for fear of being judged or their companion being taken away by force. That’s where we want to change things – both in the way we view owners who need help, and in delivering that help in time to keep pets and their people together. This is how we rescue.”

One example of an owner who was able to stay with her adored pet thanks to Woodgreen’s support is Lynne, aged 72 from Cambridgeshire.

Lynne and her husband, Graham, adopted a Patterdale Terrier puppy named Doug during the COVID-19 pandemic, and he quickly became the apple of their eye. Unfortunately, when Graham passed away in 2024, Doug started to suffer from dramatic behavioural changes.

Struggling to cope with both grief and a challenging young dog, Lynne reluctantly visited Woodgreen’s website to request to give up Doug. She saw the support available and instead made the decision to reach out and see if there was any other way that Woodgreen could help keep them together.

Wendy, a leading behaviourist at the charity, stepped in to support Lynne and Doug to overcome Doug’s behavioural challenges. She worked with Lynne to implement a rigid training programme and a new diet plan for Doug, providing help and sympathy at a trying time for Lynne.

Thanks to Lynne’s perseverance and Woodgreen’s help, Doug’s behaviour steadily improved, and Lynne was able to keep Doug in her care for two more years, until he sadly passed away in April of this year.

Speaking about her experience with Woodgreen, Lynne said: “I can’t praise the training we received from Woodgreen enough. It really was a lifeline for me and Doug during one of the hardest times of our lives.”

By sharing her story, Lynne hopes to encourage others who may be struggling to ask for help before things become too difficult. She added: “The way I look at it, there may be someone in my position who needs help just as much as I did and is too afraid to ask for it.”

With Woodgreen reporting 400 requests from owners to rehome their pets every month, Linda explains how the charity hopes to tackle this issue and keep more pets and their owners together: “We must remove the fear, shame and stigma that prevents owners from seeking help. Many owners do not want to give up their pets, but they are so often left without any other choice.”

The charity's plea follows its striking installation of 1,330 pet toys at Tower Bridge last month, representing an estimated 26,565 dogs and cats that could have remained with their owners if the right support had been available.

Each toy symbolised 20 pets who were given up because their owners lacked the support needed to keep them.

Woodgreen offers a range of services, including free practical support from health checks to behaviour advice, a national 24/7 Pet Helpline, and veterinary support.

To find out more about the charity, visit its website: https://woodgreen.org.uk/