New RSPCA stats show pet owners snub luxuries in favour of their animals
Pet owners who don’t want to leave their animals home alone miss out on luxuries such as holidays abroad and meals out, new RSPCA figures have revealed.
A survey carried out by the charity revealed more than 51% of people who took part don’t go on foreign holidays, while 29% miss out on time with family and friends because they don’t want their pets to be lonely.
A further 29% said they don’t devote as much time as they would like to hobbies and leisure activities, 25% didn’t go for meals out and nearly 24% said they had turned down opportunities for better paid jobs because of the impact a longer commute would have on the time they were away from their pets.
TrustedHousesitters is the world’s largest house & pet sitting website, having facilitated just under 700,000 house sitting nights. The service enables pet owners to find trusted sitters happy to care for their homes and pets when they’re next going away, for free. This win-win arrangement offers owner’s peace of mind alongside huge pet care savings, while sitters get to enjoy the company of pets and a free retreat worldwide. It’s an altruistic way to both find, and be, a pet sitter.
Leanne Copp, RSPCA corporate account manager, said: “The RSPCA is delighted that Trustedhousesitters.com has chosen to support us. Using their great service will mean that your pets can be cared for in their own home while you are enjoying your holiday and it might save you money too.
“It won’t be long before many people start to think about visiting friends and family around Christmas time, while others may have invitations to festive parties, so Trustedhousesitters.com could offer the perfect solution for both owner and pet.”
People joining TrustedHousesitters.com are given the option of making a donation to the RSPCA during the sign-up process.
“The money that Trustedhousesitters.com raise will go towards ensuring that we can continue our vital work in caring for animals and eliminating cruelty and neglect.
“TrustedHousesitters.com offers a service that means you can still treat yourself without having to worry about your pets, who will be happy at home being looked after,” added Leanne.
Andy Peck, CEO and founder of TrustedHousesitters.com, said: "Partnering with the RSPCA is a huge moment in the history of TrustedHousesitters. To be able to offer our support and to help our members become involved with such an important and well established charity, for the good of all animals, fills us with pride. We started this business to help pet owners find a solution and we know just how important their pets are to them.
“It is a shame that in our world there is still suffering for animals and we know our members are extremely passionate about animal welfare. By joining forces we are enabling them to become part of this essential ongoing work and all of our efforts go towards helping the pet animals we all love so much.”
For more information, to find a pet sitter near you, or even to sign up as a sitter yourself, visit www.trustedhousesitters.com
Notes to editors
* In a survey the RSPCA asked ‘Do you give up any of the following in order to spend more time with your pet’, 3,937 people said they gave up holidays abroad. A total of 7,623 people responded to the survey.
RSPCA, Wilberforce Way, Southwater, Horsham, West Sussex RH13 9RS
Press office direct lines: 0300 123 0244/0288 Fax: 0303 123 0099
Duty press officer (evenings and weekends) Tel 07825 158490
Email: press@rspca.org.uk Website: www.rspca.org.uk
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