Minnesota animal rescues are experiencing a concerning trend: a rising number of pet owners surrendering their animals due to the high costs of veterinary care and financial difficulties. This situation highlights a growing crisis in pet ownership affordability that affects both animals and their human companions.
Pet Surrender Rates on the Rise
Ruff Start Rescue in Princeton, Minnesota reports that people surrender approximately 10 animals per day to their facility. According to their data, surrender applications have increased dramatically in the first three months of each year:
- 2022: 448 surrender applications
- 2023: 475 surrender applications
- 2024: 594 surrender applications
- 2025: 726 surrender applications
This upward trend indicates a 62% increase in pet surrenders over just a four-year period, pointing to a significant and worsening problem.
Veterinary Care: The Most Expensive Aspect of Pet Ownership
According to a Hill’s Pet Nutrition report, 84% of people identified veterinary care as the most expensive part of pet ownership. The report also revealed that individuals making less than $75,000 annually are more likely to surrender a pet because of financial constraints.
Beyond veterinary costs, pet owners must also consider ongoing expenses for food and supplies, creating a substantial financial burden for many households.
Low-Cost Wellness Clinics Providing Relief
In response to this crisis, Ruff Start Rescue hosted a Low-Cost Wellness Clinic on Saturday, offering affordable veterinary services including:
- Nail trims for $10
- Heartworm tests for $20
- 4DX tests for $38
Chantelle Stroman from Coon Rapids, who brought her dogs Otis and Bella to the clinic, told FOX 9: “$38 is what I paid for two nail trims and one rabies.” This represented a savings of more than $150 compared to standard veterinary prices. Stroman acknowledged the difficult reality many pet owners face, stating, “I would have to be forced to get rid of them” without access to such affordable care options.
Stroman shared that financial constraints had previously impacted her ability to care for her pet: “My mom had to take care of [Bella] for a long time for me, because I wasn’t physically, financially, able to take care of her.”
Seniors Particularly Affected
The rising costs of veterinary care disproportionately affect seniors on fixed incomes. Nancy Benzinger from Champlin estimated that routine care for her pet Bently would normally cost “probably four or $500” at standard veterinary prices.
Benzinger emphasized the importance of addressing this issue: “We really need to be able to control the cost of veterinarian services. Otherwise, seniors aren’t going to be able to have the companions anymore.”
For veterinary professionals, this situation presents both a challenge and an opportunity to explore innovative ways to provide affordable care while maintaining quality standards. Community wellness clinics, sliding scale payment options, and preventative care programs may help bridge the gap and keep more pets with their loving owners.
Source: FOX 9 Minneapolis-St. Paul
