Caar - Children, adolescents, and animals research, Edinburgh

Really pleased our article on the impact of financial difficulties on pet owners has now been published online. We hope our participants' stories of seeking help lead to greater appreciation of the complexities involved and the emotional toll of struggling to support your pet.

Blue Cross UK Scottish SPCA School of Health in Social Science, University of Edinburgh

When Having a Pet Becomes a Luxury You Can No Longer Afford Drawing on data from a project examining experiences of accessing support for pets from the UK animal welfare charity Blue Cross, this paper illuminates the impact of financial hardship on pet owne...

Findings from the qualitative study undertaken as part of our 'Experiences of Blue Cross Support' project are presented in this paper. We are delighted that Animal Welfare chose to publish another of our papers. It is really important that we understand why people do not come forward for support when they are struggling, especially if this has an impact on other lives. Only then can we develop support services that are effective.

Why are some people in the UK reluctant to seek support for their pets? | Animal Welfare | Cambridge Core Why are some people in the UK reluctant to seek support for their pets? - Volume 33

What I Wish Older Generations Knew About Mental Health Hannah, 23, explains what it's like to be a young person struggling with their mental health today, and what she wishes older generations understood.

We are thrilled that our article from a previous project (below) has now been published!

'Changing homes, changing housing, changing relationships: Pets and care experienced children and young people'

We would like to again thank our participants and our funder, the Society for Companion Animal Studies (SCAS), who made it possible for us to carry out this important research.

‘She has saved my life on many occasions’: Care-experienced young women’s reflections on the significance of pets and the impact of loss - Janine Muldoon, Joanne Williams, 2024 This article highlights the significance of pets for five young women with care experience, examining the impact of disruptions to those relationships when movi...

Good morning everyone, sending sincere apologies for not posting anything for a very long time. It has been a very busy period and we are now starting to see the fruits of our labour . We have now finished the collaborative project with the animal welfare charity Blue Cross UK - 'Supporting People & Pets in the UK' and are delighted to share our outputs. We would also like to thank Blue Cross for funding the project, but more importantly, for being such wonderful people to work with.

Our report shares all of the key findings from both the two annual surveys and the in-depth qualitative research.
https://www.pure.ed.ac.uk/ws/portalfiles/portal/426786980/Understanding_pet_ownership_challenges_in_the_UK_March_2024.pdf

We delve deeper into the complex and emotional issues revealed in the qualitative data in two papers (below) that have been accepted and are due to be published soon.

Muldoon JC & Williams JM (in press). When having a pet becomes a luxury you can no longer afford. Anthrozoös.
Muldoon JC & Williams JM (in press). Why are some people in the UK reluctant to seek support for their pets? Animal Welfare.

The project's aim was to better understand (a) the challenges faced by pet owners across the country in the context of the cost-of-living crisis, and (b) experiences of accessing support. If you have any questions at all, please get in touch.



Blue Cross UK Scottish SPCA

Please find below a link to our latest release, a Summary of Findings from the 'Supporting People & Pets in the UK' Project. A collaboration with the animal welfare charity Blue Cross, its aim is to better understand (a) the challenges faced by pet owners across the country in the context of the cost-of-living crisis, and (b) experiences of accessing support. If you have any questions, please get in touch.

https://www.ed.ac.uk/sites/default/files/atoms/files/supporting_people_pets_in_the_uk_-_summary_of_findings.pdf

Blue Cross UK
Grimsby Blue Cross animal hospital
Blue Cross
School of Health in Social Science, University of Edinburgh
Centre for Applied Developmental Psychology, University of Edinburgh
Scottish SPCA

🆘 Lesley is a Scottish SPCA inspector. Over the past year, our inspectorate team have been on the frontline as the cost-of-living crisis has deepened. Here’s how the crisis has impacted on their work:

💭 How have the types of incidents you’re attending changed since the cost-of-living crisis?

We are seeing a sharp increase in individuals requesting to sign animals into the care of the Scottish SPCA. When inspectors attend at homes, we are seeing many owners choosing to feed their pets rather than themselves, as they cannot afford to buy food due to soaring costs. Owners often struggle to pay for veterinary care and cannot provide even essential treatment, which impacts greatly on the animal. At crisis point, they then call us, after they have exhausted all avenues and do not know where to turn. The impact on people can be devastating due to the potential loss of their beloved pet. Often, owners feel they have no option and do relinquish their pets, which is not only distressing for them, but also for their animals who are being removed from their homes. The cost-of-living crisis has had a devastating effect on many households and the Scottish SPCA are certainly seeing the impact of this, particularly within our animal rescue and rehoming centres, where we are often at capacity.

💭 What do inspectors do to help if someone is struggling with the cost of caring for a pet?

Inspectors can now offer Scottish SPCA Pet Aid, which is a fantastic initiative that provides pet food boxes to 40 food banks across Scotland. This has shown to be a great way to keep owners and their pets together, as it provides a much-needed cushion in time of need. We will also signpost pet owners to various other organisations and charities that can provide assistance. As inspectors, we will always try to secure positive outcomes for pets and their owners. No human or animal should go hungry, and no owner should lose their pet during a cost-of-living crisis.

💭 How is the cost-of-living crisis changing the role of inspectors? Is It making it more complex?

As inspectors our role varies greatly. The rise in pet owners suffering from the impact of the cost-of-living crisis means we are not only offering guidance and support, but also dealing with the complex issue of its impact on people’s mental health and wellbeing. This, in turn, can have a detrimental impact on pets. As Scotland’s animal welfare charity, the wellbeing of any animal is paramount. It can be challenging when trying to do all you can for a struggling pet owner but also ensuring the welfare of an animal.

💭 What advice would you give to someone struggling to care for their animal due to the cost-of-living crisis?

Know that there is help and support out there for pet owners. I would advise that they pick up the phone and call our confidential helpline on 03000 999 999. Our experienced team will be able to support you and give advice. Find your local food bank that offers Pet Aid, this will ensure your pet doesn’t go hungry. There are also charities that offer vet care, ensure that your pet is registered with them should you find yourself in a situation where they need treatment.

🚐 You can help us continue to keep our inspectors on the road in communities across Scotland by donating to our cost-of-living urgent appeal.

Donate now: https://bit.ly/3MlQy92

Good morning🌞 Wishing everyone a lovely week ahead.

As we have not posted for a while, we decided to put together a Spring newsletter🌱to share our current/recent work with you. If you would like a copy, please visit:https://www.ed.ac.uk/sites/default/files/atoms/files/caar_newsletter_2.pdf

If you would like to be added to our contact list, please email [email protected]

We recently completed a study examining how pets have featured in the lives of children and young people with care experience, and the impact of disruptions to these relationships. You can read a summary of the findings from this project @ https://bit.ly/petsandchangesummary

Funded by the Society for Companion Animal Studies (SCAS)



Staf Care Inspectorate Fostering Compassion Scottish SPCA Who Cares? Scotland The Promise Scotland The Fostering Network School of Health in Social Science, University of Edinburgh Centre for Applied Developmental Psychology, University of Edinburgh

Relationships with pets matter, sometimes more than other relationships.

Our short survey (maximum 15 mins) https://bit.ly/Petsandchangesurvey aims to understand the importance of pets to children and young people who have care experience. In doing so, this will help us to raise awareness of their significance and identify ways in which relationships can be maintained when changes in homes/housing are necessary. We also want to emphasise the importance of supporting young people with the loss of these relationships.

Please take part in our survey if you are age 16-25 years old. Your contribution will help to improve the lives of children and young people as they are dealing with difficult transitions.

Information on the study can be found here:https://www.ed.ac.uk/sites/default/files/atoms/files/information_sheet_for_age_16-25_1.pdf

Webpage: https://bit.ly/Petsandchange