Shelter expects tariffs to mean more pets abandoned

An animal sanctuary has said it is bracing itself for "another tidal wave of rescue cases" if Donald Trump's trade tariffs put extra financial pressure on UK pet owners.

Woodlands Animal Sanctuary in Holmeswood, Lancashire, said existing cost-of-living pressures had made the past winter much busier than previous years, and that its cattery was full by March.

The sanctuary said 90% of the animals it had taken in were given up by owners who could no longer afford to keep them or who were facing eviction from their homes.

There have been warnings that tariffs could be set to have a broader impact on the UK, for example on interest rates and retail prices.

Woodlands trustee and volunteer Vickie Blackburn said: "In 20 years we have never seen anything like it."

She added: "Cats being given up due to financial pressures used to be around one or two in every 10 cases, but now it's the majority of our work."

Ms Blackburn said it prevented the sanctuary from helping animals "most in need" with "complex issues".

"But we can't do that if we're basically a rehoming hub for domestic cats whose owners can no longer afford to keep them," she added.

The charity had already launched a pet food bank to help pet owners who are struggling financially, and was working to raise awareness of the importance of having a cat neutered.

British exporters face an extra charge on goods sold into the US since a blanket 10% tariff was imposed by the US Government earlier this month.

Animal shelters across the UK have been reporting a spike in pets being surrendered due to cost of living pressures.

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