According to the Office for National Statistics, owning a pet costs on average nearly 21% more today than in 2021.
In the first 11 months of last year, the cost of a four-legged friend was about €1,000, which is about €90 per month. Already in the same period this year – from January to November – the expenditure amounted to 1205 euros, which is equivalent to almost 110 euros per month.
Of all the costs associated with having one pet, the increase in the cost of food is what weighs on the pocket the most. According to Jaime Piçarra, secretary general of the Portuguese Association of Compound Food for Animals (IACA), the price of pet food has increased over the past year. And he explains: “For cats the increase was 25% and for dogs 30%”.
This has led to a fall in feed sales of approximately 5%, due to declining demand. At the same time, consumers buy cheaper assortments instead of premium, reveals to Dinheiro Vivo, Jaime Piçarra. As the person responsible explains, these increases are due to the doubling of the cost of raw materials, fuel and energy.
And while there has been a slowdown in recent weeks, grains are still 20% above year-ago levels, animal meal 30% and fats about 40%. Energy, on the other hand, experienced an average increase of 25 to 30 euros per ton of feed produced in the European Union (but reached 60 euros in feed premium).
In view of these values, Jaime Piçarra predicts that “without concrete action in 2023, and given high inflation, uncertainty and volatility, the outlook for next year is pessimistic”. This, and because, according to the indications that the IACA receives from the companies, they do not pass on the full increase in raw material prices in the sales price.
“In general, these costs are charged, but the other costs, such as energy, fuel, transport or financial costs, are charged at about 75%, with margins clearly decreasing,” says Jaime Piçarra. Linked to all these restrictions is the strike of workers in port administrations, which began on the 22nd.
This prompts criticism from the Secretary General of the IACA: “In an unimaginable way, minimum bulk unloading services have not been defined, which will lead to ship unloading delays and increased supply costs.” Warns of the possibility that fractures may occur stock and difficulties in feeding the animals.
A scenario that leads to a different reality: pet owners eventually abandon them, because they cannot feed them. Or who turn to associations for support. Associations, which are also going through a difficult situation.
At União Zoófila, where a ton of feed is consumed every week, the increase in prices – in the range of 15% to 20% – has led to the institution’s financial problems. “This is reflected in the decrease in the volume of donations we receive at the gate of the shelter and in the campaigns to collect donations that we run with the large areas,” says Ana Palha.
On the other hand, and as established by the IACA, there was also an exponential increase in requests for help. “From families, other associations and caretakers of colonies, who are unable to feed the pets in their care,” complains Ana Palha. Cash donations were also drastically reduced.
Compared to 2021, the institution recorded a decrease of about 50%. Despite this, the number of people who identify with the work of the association has not decreased. “Whoever gives, keeps giving. It gives, it is less,” emphasizes Ana Palha, who also adds that this inflationary scenario forced “a huge “belt tightening” to continue to help all the animals (increasingly) that did not. t reduce the needs from day to day”.
Helping four-legged friends is also the mission of AnimaisVet – Mimos Que Curam veterinary clinic. Four brands of animal feed are sold, chosen to ensure that animals continue to have access to quality products and additives without any health problems. But, as vet assistant Filipa Queirós explains, “one of them is already here [vendem] almost exclusively to order, because of the sharply increased prices”.
Prices have risen between 10% and 15% per kilo, although some brands, which were already more expensive, have seen increases of around 20%. “Some have reduced the size of the bags so that the amount paid by the customer is not so accentuated, which in some way disguises the increase,” notes Filipa.
Stopping the sale of these products is not envisaged by the AnimaisVet team, which has already changed the management method of its range. “Sales volume tends to decrease and a stock with a significant volume means a large financial effort,” says the vet assistant. Since the clinic only resells these items, the increase is fully passed on to the customer.
A recurring situation, confirms the IACA: “This situation will have an impact on the end consumer, although companies do not try to pass on the total costs in the price charged.”
Source: DN
