RSPCA's 2026 Kindness Index: dog sentience widely recognised, but pet care costs are rising

The RSPCA, working with the Scottish SPCA and Ulster SPCA, has published the fifth edition of its Animal Kindness Index, a YouGov survey of almost 7,000 UK adults and children exploring how the public thinks, feels and acts towards animals. The 2026 findings show recognition of dogs as sentient beings holding steady at 94%, the highest of any species measured, while 72% of adults and 86% of children describe themselves as animal lovers. Animal welfare ranks as the public's second most important social concern, behind mental health and ahead of physical health.

Alongside that positive picture, the report flags growing financial pressure on pet owners: 75% say the cost of caring for their pet has risen over the past year, a seven-point increase since 2022. That squeeze matters for welfare in practice, since owners who are struggling financially are more likely to delay veterinary treatment or cut back on preventative care, an issue previous PDSA research has linked to the same cost-of-living pressures. The survey also found 68% of people now see national government as primarily responsible for animal welfare, reflecting continued public appetite for stronger regulation of breeding and pet care standards.

For breeders and owners, one finding stands out: while vets remain the leading source of pet care advice, trusted by 64% of owners, a growing minority (10%) now turn to AI chatbot tools instead. As the survey also notes that some online animal cruelty content is now suspected to be AI-generated, it's a reminder that for questions with real welfare consequences, such as health testing or breeding decisions, professional and veterinary advice still carries a weight that generic online answers cannot replace.