Pets returned to shelters in Hungary as owners face rising costs

Chelsy is a sweet-eyed, immune-ill dog who was adopted two years ago. His owners couldn't afford his vet bills or food and were forced to sell their home to make ends met.

Chelsy (four years old) is not the only one. Everyday, people show up at the Noah's Ark Animal Shelter to say they are unable to care for their pets because of rising living costs and energy prices. Some owners have moved abroad in search of work.

Kinga Schneider, spokesperson for shelter, Hungary's largest animal shelter, stated that the shelter has a long list of animals to be returned. The shelter cares for more than 1,200 animals, including rescued cats, dogs, and birds.

While the shelter is struggling to pay increased energy and feed costs, donations - which are its only source of income - have declined.

Schneider said: "We are living day to day. We have to think hard about whether we can house an animal or whether we can fund its healing."

According to the Hungarian Animal Protection Alliance, the situation is similar in Hungary's animal shelters. Similar patterns have been reported by other countries, including Britain.

Feed prices have risen 20%-30% which is one of the major problems, Zoltan Cibula, managing director at AlphaZoo in Hungary, stated.

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Pet owners who walked their dogs in Budapest parks confirmed that pet ownership has become more expensive.

It's an average 30% increase in all costs (of animals) And because all other costs have gone up too, it most affects them," Andras said while playing with his black spaniel.

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