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The Ripple Effect of Veterinary Costs on Rescue

The Ripple Effect of Veterinary Costs on Rescue

How Rising Prices Impact Pet Owners, Rescues, and Adoption Rates

Zoomies Team
February 17, 2025

The rising cost of veterinary care is making pet ownership increasingly difficult for families across the country. With veterinary prices climbing faster than inflation and the overall cost of pet care surging, many pet owners are struggling to afford necessary medical care for their animals. This financial strain is having a direct impact on animal rescues, adoption rates, and the ability of shelters and rescue organizations to support pets in need.

The Rising Costs of Veterinary Care

Veterinary expenses have surged dramatically over the last decade. Between 2023 and 2024 alone, vet care costs rose by 7.6%, far outpacing the overall 2.5% inflation rate during the same period.

For pet owners, these rising costs translate into difficult financial decisions. The average annual cost of pet ownership—including food, medical care, and other expenses—has climbed to $1,248 for dogs and $836 for cats. Routine checkups alone can range from $50 to $250 per visit, and emergency care can be much higher.

As prices continue to climb, many pet owners are delaying or skipping veterinary visits altogether. The average time between vet visits has stretched from 57.6 days in 2020 to 85.8 days in 2024. Fewer visits mean delayed diagnoses, untreated medical conditions, and, in some cases, heartbreaking decisions when care becomes unaffordable.

How These Costs Impact Animal Rescues

For animal rescues, rising veterinary costs present an even greater challenge. Many nonprofit rescue organizations rely on donations to cover medical expenses for animals in their care. As vet costs increase, rescues are forced to make difficult choices:

Fewer rescues: High medical costs limit the number of animals an organization can take in, reducing their ability to save at-risk pets.
Financial strain: With fewer donations and rising costs, rescues must stretch every dollar to provide necessary care.
Declining community support: Rescues that assist pet owners with low-cost veterinary services are struggling to keep up with demand, leaving more pets vulnerable to surrender.

When pet owners cannot afford medical care, some feel they have no choice but to surrender their animals to shelters. This puts additional strain on already overwhelmed shelters, further increasing the burden on rescues working to find homes for these pets.

The Impact on Adoption Rates

Adoption rates have been steadily declining. In 2023, approximately 4.8 million cats and dogs were adopted—345,000 fewer adoptions than in 2019. While shelter intake numbers are lower than in previous decades, the number of adoptions has not kept pace with the growing number of pet-owning households.

One key reason for this decline is financial uncertainty. Many potential adopters worry about the cost of owning a pet, especially with vet care becoming more expensive. With 91% of pet owners reporting financial stress due to pet-related expenses, fewer households are willing to take on the responsibility of pet ownership.

A Looming Crisis for Pets and Rescues

As economic uncertainty looms and veterinary costs continue to rise, the financial strain on pet owners, rescues, and shelters will only increase. With fewer adoptions, growing veterinary expenses, and more people struggling to care for their pets, we may see a rise in surrender rates and a decline in rescue organizations' ability to provide assistance.

What Can Be Done?

Addressing the veterinary cost crisis requires action from multiple fronts:

Expanding low-cost veterinary services – More funding and resources for affordable spay/neuter programs and wellness clinics can help offset rising costs.
Advocating for fair pricing – Encouraging transparency in veterinary pricing and exploring cost-control measures can help make care more accessible.
Supporting rescues and shelters – Donations, fostering, and volunteering can provide relief to organizations struggling with rising costs.

Conclusion

The cost of veterinary care has reached a tipping point, making pet ownership less accessible and placing enormous strain on rescue organizations. If prices continue to rise, the impact on adoptions, pet retention, and rescue efforts will be devastating.

Now more than ever, communities must come together to support responsible pet ownership, expand affordable care options, and ensure that no pet suffers due to financial hardship. If you’re in a position to help, consider donating to or volunteering with your local rescue. Every effort makes a difference in keeping pets in loving homes and out of shelters.

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