Forbes.com - Tariffs Create Concern About Pets Being Surrendered To Animal Shelters - Shelter Animals Count
01May’25
By Jen Reeder
Apr 16, 2025
When a dog or cat becomes a part of the family, most people will do everything possible to keep them. But pet ownership can come with a hefty price tag — with the average lifetime cost of care for a 10-year-old dog at $34,550, and $32,170 for a 16-year-old cat —and President Trump’s sweeping tariffs have pet owners and shelter advocates concerned about the potential consequences of spiking costs.
“The economy has already been a contributing factor in pet surrenders for several years, and additional economic strain — including the potential impact of tariffs — could make a difficult situation worse,” says Tori Fugate, director of communications for the nonprofit Shelter Animals Count, which maintains a database of U.S. animal sheltering statistics. “Rising prices for pet-related goods and services may force more pet owners to make the heartbreaking decision to surrender their pets.”