Nigerians abandon their pets because of a crisis of life

Presie Maxwell seems to be in a difficult position when he leaves his beloved Hanks dog at an animal shelter in Lagos, Nigeria’s mall.

Fighting tears, he says, “I can’t afford to take care of it. I can’t afford to feed it the way I have to eat.”

His two -year -old American Eskimo barks while the owner turns his back and leaves the St. Mark animal rescue Foundation in the Lagos suburb of Aja.

Dr. Afa, a veterinarian and chairman of the Rescue Center, takes a Henx and puts it in a large metal cell – one of the many in the one -storey building intended for dogs, cats, snakes and other animals.

Hanks wheels around in circles in his cage – and Dr. Afa is trying to calm the difficult fluffy dog.

Maxwell, online media strategist, has recently been shortened. His work at work means that he is never home and therefore feels unable to take care of a Henx.

“I’m trying to get everything I need to do to survive. I don’t even have time (to take care of a Henx) because I’m always out to look for a job,” he told the BBC.

The decision of the 33-year-old was difficult to make, but this is what many pet owners are taking over the growing costs of living in Nigeria.

The most lavish nation in Africa is affected by high inflation, as President Bola Tinubu came to power two years ago and eliminated a long-standing fuel subsidy.

The inflation rate increased from 22% in May 2023 to 35% in December 2024, a 28-year peak, according to the National Statistics Bureau (NBS.)

Since then, inflation has fallen to 24%, but that means that prices are still rising, not as fast as before.

The economic crisis meant that some companies had to reduce the size to keep themselves against the backdrop of increasing operating costs by pushing young people like G -Maxwell in the already saturated labor market.

Animal rights activists and animal shelters say they see an unprecedented number of abandoned animals as a cost of care for pets that are out of control.

Pet prices for pet and veterinary care have jumped more 100%, as some things, especially medicines, are imported – and the local currency has dropped against the dollar.

“About 10 years ago, when we started this project, we really didn’t have people who gave up their dogs because they failed to feed the dogs,” Dr. Afa told the BBC.

“We currently have 10, 12 animals that have dropped in a month.”

Some, such as Maxwell, convey their pets to a shelter for adoption, but others simply abandon their animals.

The animal cruelty campaign Jackie Idimogue, who is the president of my dog ​​and I, the community of dog lovers in Lagos, who often helps to rethink pets, says she noticed the change.

“Now they don’t even have this patience (to find new owners). They just tie the dog to a post on the road or just unleash it on the road,” she told the BBC.

The 32-year-old says more that 50% of his income as a furniture manufacturer and interior designer is now continuing to take care of his four dogs.

“I spend approximately $ 250,000 ($ 158; £ 117) every month for pets,” she says, adding that this includes someone to walk on the dogs and take care of them when she wasn’t around.

But d -Idimogu says he can’t bear to refuse them.

“As a lonely lady, I still don’t have my children. My dogs are my babies. I do not see any difference between myself as a dog mom and a human mother. I don’t think I have it in myself to give up any of my babies for some reason.”

Instead, she chose to adapt her lifestyle -less luxurious for herself as jewelry, expensive hairstyles and spa visits and less goodies for her pets such as chicken, yogurt and car walks.

“I used to be intrusive, but now I had to dinner for my dogs.”

The same applies to Amartya odanokende, which bears the name “Jason the Cat Guy” in social media, where it likes to give its love for cats to their fellow Nigerians, who often look at cats with suspicion because of their association with witchcraft.

He spends approximately $ 160 a month on food for five big cats and some kittens, plus another $ 7 for $ 10 kg of cat waste. As he received his Prussian cats in 2020, he says that what he was spending has increased 100%.

Such “maintenance maintenance costs” is a problem and he is worried about debt.

The CEO of the sales of Lagos IYKE ELUEZE is also struggling to take care of its 10 dogs.

“There is a specific brand of food I used. It was only about 30,000 nail. The same brand of dog food is 165,000 NEA,” he told the BBC.

He credit his first dog Hennesi by saving his life at a time when he struggles with depression – he would still want to get rid of some of his animals, as he now has to prioritize his children.

But the 36-year-old fears that his dogs could be eaten as they are considered a delicacy in some parts of South Nigeria.

Guinness Hilda Baki Record She once fled on social media after she admitted that she was making a themed menu for dogs.

“I am very careful about who adopts my dogs. I do not want my dogs to find themselves in another person’s pots,” said a father in two.

Mistura Ibrahim, a young tattoo artist in Lagos who made his mission to help cats after saving two who were about to be killed with stones, is depressed by the situation and is difficult to find new homes for others she continues to save.

“I get some calls from people I have given cats in the past and they say they really can’t afford to keep cats.”

She no longer feeds her cats with tin dishes, choosing to give them food from her own plate.

Her advice is to take the pets’ well -being seriously: “It’s just like having a child. If you can’t afford to have a child, then you don’t wear a child in the world.”

For Dr. Afa, who uses profit from his veterinary practice to fund her shelter, it is becoming increasingly difficult to accommodate unwanted animals.

“We are trying to help animals quickly receive homes, but I am careful (for) the homes they go to so that they do not return. And some animals will never find homes for previous abuse.”

With the St. Mark’s Animal Rescue Foundation, which is taking care of more than 60 dogs right now – about twice as much capacity – would he ever respond?

“I have no heart. While I talk, I have dogs and cats everywhere. My office and home are full – and I still make room for the next one.”