A Pet is for Life, Not Until Life Changes

At Hopefield Animal Sanctuary, we see the heartbreaking reality of what happens when pets are abandoned. Every week, we receive a landslide of calls and emails from people asking us to take in their pets because of a “change in circumstances.” Moving house, having a baby, a new job, financial struggles – these are some of the most common reasons given and always come with pleas for us take over the responsibility. While we understand that life can be unpredictable, we need to say this clearly: a pet is a lifetime commitment and as a charity reliant purely on public support, we just don’t have the resources, finances and space to for the hundreds and hundreds of unwanted pets we’re asked to take in every year.

Right now, the UK is facing a national crisis of pet abandonment. Sanctuaries, rescues, and shelters across the country are overwhelmed. We are at capacity. Every space filled by a surrendered family pet – whether it is a cat, a dog, a hamster or a snake – is one less space available for an animal that has faced genuine abuse, neglect, or abandonment – the animals that are the reason sanctuaries like ours exist to protect.

We cannot stress this enough:

• Moving home? Make sure your pet can come too before you sign on the dotted line.

• Having a baby? Prepare your pet for the adjustment – countless families successfully raise children and pets together.

• Working longer hours? Explore dog walkers, pet sitters, pop-ins from neighbours or family support.

• Struggling financially? Strip back your outgoings. Generally, most people find there is always a cutback or two that can be made (even if you don’t want to). Your pet deserves to be put into your essential outgoings category.

There are solutions, but they require commitment, responsibility, and compassion.

We do understand that in rare and genuine cases, people may truly have no other choice but to part with their pet. Illness, death, or extreme hardship can leave families with limited options, and we never want to shame people in heartbreaking situations. However, after more than 40 years of rescuing animals, we can honestly say that the majority of reasons we hear are not true emergencies – they’re excuses. Too often, pets are surrendered because children have lost interest in caring for them, or because the novelty has worn off. This is unfair on the animal, who had no say in the decision to join the family in the first place.

On the other hand, we see countless inspiring families who adapt and make it work, even when life gets difficult. Parents teach their children responsibility, people move house with their pets in mind, and many adjust their routines and finances to ensure their animals still receive the care and love they deserve. These are the stories that show us what true commitment looks like – and they’re the examples we hope everyone will follow.

Animals are family. They trust us completely and rely on us for love, security, and care. When we walk away from them because life gets difficult, it’s the animals who suffer the most. At Hopefield, our mission is to give sanctuary to animals who have been mistreated, abandoned, or left with no one else in the world. We cannot continue to take in healthy, loved pets simply because they no longer fit into a lifestyle. If you are considering bringing a pet into your life, please think carefully: can you truly commit to them for their entire life – 10, 15, even 20 years?

If the answer is yes, you’ll be rewarded with a loyal friend who will love you unconditionally. But if the answer is no, please – do not adopt, do not buy, and do not bring an animal into your life only to let them down later. Together, we can break the cycle of abandonment. But it starts with each of us taking responsibility for the promises we make to the animals we choose to love.