Pet costs push Australian owners to breaking point, research finds

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 1 Nov, 19:32 · Archive

Research shows 77 per cent of Australian pet owners are making personal sacrifices, with one in four skipping meals to afford pet food.

Australian pet owners are increasingly struggling to afford the cost of keeping their animals, with new research highlighting a crisis affecting many households. Petbarn Foundation's State of Sacrifice Report 2026 found 77 per cent of pet owners are making personal sacrifices for their animals. More than half have cut back on essential spending, one in four have skipped meals to afford pet food, and 31 per cent have delayed paying household bills to cover their pet's needs.

Endurance athlete Nedd Brockmann, the 2026 Young Australian of the Year, is fronting Petbarn Foundation's Tree of Hope Appeal to highlight the issue. He has partnered with his rescue dog Dougie, a border collie-kelpie cross he adopted during Covid after finding the animal tied to a post, covered in fleas and showing signs of neglect.

Brockmann described the experience of taking on a rescue dog as more challenging than he initially expected, noting that Dougie has separation anxiety and signs of past abuse. Despite the difficulties, Brockmann emphasises that struggling pet owners need not suffer alone, as resources such as pet food banks and financial assistance programmes are available, though only 20 per cent of Australians are aware such help exists.

How it is being reported

• Nedd Brockmann and rescue dog Dougie back Petbarn Tree of Hope Appeal as pet owners struggle with rising costsYoung Australian of the Year Nedd Brockmann is urging Aussies to back pet owners in crisis as new research reveals many are going without to keep their animals fed.The West Australian · 1 Nov, 19:02
• Nedd Brockmann and rescue dog Dougie back Petbarn Tree of Hope Appeal as pet owners struggle with rising costsYoung Australian of the Year Nedd Brockmann is urging Aussies to back pet owners in crisis as new research reveals many are going without to keep their animals fed.Perth Now · 1 Nov, 19:02

In this story: Nedd Brockmann · Dougie · Petbarn Foundation · Australia

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