Companion animal welfare is significantly compromised in low-income households where veterinary care costs are a barrier, creating a welfare inequality crisis in UK pet ownership.
Veterinary access inequality represents a systemic welfare problem that correlates with human poverty. Animals in low-income households are not less loved but receive less care due to financial barriers. The result is preventable suffering from conditions that would be treated immediately in insured pets. The solution requires both charitable provision - PDSA, Blue Cross - and systemic change to make basic veterinary care more accessible.