SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC NEWS) — New Yorkers certainly love their furry friends, but a recent study by Forbes ranked the state as the seventh riskiest for pet illness. This has to do with a number of geographical factors, but local animal shelter CEO Troy Waffner believes vet care is one of the main contributing factors.
“There’s become more and more an inaccessibility to vet care. Not only vet care but inexpensive vet care or lower cost vet care. And that’s what we see when we talk to owners who have to give up their animals a lot. You know, they’d love to keep the animal except for the fact they can’t afford the vet care,” said Waffner.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, vet care prices have risen by nearly 60% in the last decade, which is significantly higher compared to other consumer items. Local pet owner Nick Williams thinks that pet owners need to be more informed before deciding to buy.
“I think a lot of people just aren’t aware of certain things when it comes to taking care of pets. I think financially it’s very difficult nowadays to take care of a pet. I know plenty of people in my neighborhood that have taken in stray cats, and they wanna get them neutered. And you know, they just can’t afford it,” said Williams.
Central New York experiences significantly more tick-related illnesses than other parts of the country. Factors like these have significantly increased the number of pets at local animal shelters. Experts say before you buy a new furry friend, make sure you are prepared to take care of it.
