The rising costs of pet food and pet healthcare are making pet ownership harder, says Ann Criel, Vice President of the Federation of European Companion Animal Veterinary Associations (FECAVA). Euractiv’s Christoph Schwaiger spoke in-depth with Criel at the EU Companion Animals Stakeholder Summit.

While reaffirming the myriad of benefits owning a pet can have, Criel highlighted the realities of modern-day pet ownership, including misconceptions animated in the media; she made a call to action for fellow vets to improve the status quo while praising the expertise of vets in communicating and managing pandemic scenarios.

CH: We’re still moving away from a pandemic. There’s a war on our continent. Families are experiencing a cost-of-living crisis in different European countries. Why is now the right time to start caring about animals?

CRIEL: It’s because they can comfort and give you company without asking anything in return. I think it’s very important that in periods of crisis, you have somebody to talk to. And you can really talk to a dog or a cat, believe me.

CH: Is it becoming easier or harder to keep a pet in 2024?

CRIEL: I think it’s not easier. What is perhaps easier is to get a pet because today you’ll find multiple channels to do so. You can either go to a good breeder, but you also have the illegal trade still happening. Just open your laptop and pick any breed you’d like to buy.

You also have the shelters, but there it’s not so easy to get a pet. I don’t think I’d get a pet from a Belgian shelter because I don’t have enough time. But if people can’t get a pet from a shelter they’ll go on the internet, and the dog will be on their doorstep in a few days.

So, [though] getting a pet is not so difficult anymore. Prices are sometimes a problem. You hear prices of designer dogs, which usually aren’t a defined breed, but are a mongrel, for around €3,000. For a lot of people that’s a month’s salary. Then people sometimes forget they’ll have extra costs on top of that because the dog needs to be vaccinated regularly, has to get anti-parasitic treatment, and dogs have to eat as well.

Pet food can end up as a large cost […] and above all, this pet can get ill unexpectedly and have to see a veterinarian.

CH: What can the EU do in practical terms to make this a bit easier?

CRIEL: It can look closer at the media. For example, pet food ads run on TV practically every day in every country. There should be more emphasis that buying a pet is a lifetime commitment. Topics on responsible ownership should be pushed in the media. The authorities have a lot of influence here. Instead of dog food commercials, we should have more talk about dog responsibilities.

CH: And on a national level? Are there EU countries doing things we should try to emulate or investigate further?

CRIEL: The Netherlands is a very good example where veterinarians and animal welfare organisations aren’t afraid to speak out. For example, awareness campaigns against flat-faced dogs in the Netherlands are everywhere.

As FECAVA we try to spread the word to the rest of Europe. But in the Netherlands for example people are banned from breeding Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. Taking such a big step takes a lot of courage.

CH: You’re a vet so I obviously have to ask you about animal healthcare. We hear a lot about human health care, especially during the pandemic. Are there enough initiatives being taken in favour of improving animal health care?

CRIEL: We as vets were quite prepared for what we saw during the coronavirus pandemic. We’re used to that because of the big outbreaks of diseases we deal with in cattle, large herds, stables, and so on. My husband for example is a large animal vet. He recently visited a calf that was coughing, and it was isolated from day one.

In Belgium, one of the main spokespersons for the media during the pandemic was a veterinarian. I think vets are better placed to work around pandemics than human doctors because the latter only see individuals. We’re much more used to seeing larger amounts of animals with infectious diseases. So, we would be prime candidates to be asked what kind of measures should be taken.

CH: How can we encourage young people to think more about potential jobs related to animals? Parents might be hesitant about their children becoming farmers, but I’m sure there are plenty of important jobs and professions.

CRIEL: As you said about farmers, I think young farmers really have a hard time. There’s so much legislation and paperwork. I think we have to diminish all of it.

Dog breeders on the other hand saw their income increase during the pandemic. There was no regulation. As I mentioned before some were being sold for more than €3,000. I have no clue why a dog should be so expensive. No one spoke out saying this wasn’t right. It’s something we should look into and determine how much a dog should cost. Do we have to stay at the level of the free market and see dogs as a consumption good?

CH: Is there scope to improve vet-pet owner relationships? Would you perhaps encourage people to speak to a vet even before they have a vet to learn about all these issues?

CRIEL: Yes. In Belgium, we’ve had the ‘pup4life’ initiative for a long time. It’s a questionnaire found in every vet’s cabinet designed for people wanting a new pet. It asks about how many hours a week can you afford to go on walks for? How big is your garden? Things like this.

So, you fill in the questionnaire and you come back to the veterinarian. Without charging you we look at your answers and explain which type of cat or dog will be the best fit for you.

At that point, someone might tell me they want a French Bulldog but then I explain it will cost them a lot of money because of all their health issues. So that’s a conversation we should have before and not after when they’re sitting in your waiting room with their French bulldog.

Sometimes I give them a card for 10 consultations with the 11th for free. They tell me it will take a long time until it’s filled up. Before they know it, the card is full.

People need to be informed about these issues much earlier. We can already start in schools. We could teach children early on the responsibility a pet brings along. Teach them that dogs aren’t toys. We can teach them how to communicate with dogs. How to tell when they are nervous like when they start to lick their lips and blink their eyes. It’s all very important but unfortunately, there is nothing of the sort in schools right now.

CH: Europe has an ageing population. Is having dogs in elderly care homes something to consider or is it more of a health hazard with dogs licking things and having fur everywhere?

CRIEL: It’s a tricky question because as we heard during Zoetis’ conference, dogs can carry multidrug-resistant bacteria and zoonotic diseases. So, it’s not so black and white. There could also be options where special rooms of elderly homes are made for interacting with dogs. Some hospitals already have similar setups.

But we also have to think about the dog’s life. I could imagine that therapy dogs also need some off days as it could be stressful to be working in such places all day. As FECAVA President Dr Danny Holmes asked: ‘Can working dogs also retire?’

CH: When you were speaking on stage you mentioned the lack of media coverage on certain topics. Well, now you’re chatting with Euractiv! So, what message would you like to highlight?

CRIEL: I think that more veterinarians are featuring in less attractive parts of the discussion because of our prices. There’s also a lack of vets. So that means fewer after-hours visits for people. In Belgium sometimes people have to call five or six vets before someone picks up the phone and is able to help them.

As vets, we have to be prouder of what we do and what we know. And we have to get out into the world more often. Then the rest will follow.

The interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.

[By Christoph Schwaiger I Edited by Brian Maguire | Euractiv’s Advocacy Lab ]

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