world News

PET OWNERS are being hit by soaring vet fees due to soaring inflation and a lack of competition in the industry.

Laura Purkess takes a look at what is happening and explains how you can avoid being stung.

WHILE enjoying the holiday of a lifetime in Tanzania last September, Sarina Kastendiek received a call that shattered her world.

After returning to her hotel from a day of exploring, the media executive was told by reception she had a message waiting for her.

It was from her local vet, who asked her to call them back as soon as possible.

Sarina, 31, from London, said she felt a wave of dread and feared the worst had happened.

On calling, she received the devastating news that her beloved cat, Calypso, urgently needed surgery to treat life-threatening injuries — and it was going to cost her £8,000.

Calypso had eaten 80cm of string, which had got wrapped around her tongue and was pulling on her internal organs.

The vets said they needed Sarina’s consent — and card details — to perform the surgery or Calypso would die.

“I was in utter shock,” said Sarina.

“The vet put me on FaceTime so I could see and talk to Calypso before the surgery. It felt like a goodbye.

“The next day, I lay alone on one of Zanzibar’s most beautiful beaches crying, waiting for news and wondering how I would pay for the extortionate operation.”

Thankfully, the surgery was a success and Sarina was able to fly home and visit Calypso while she was recovering.

Sarina had pet insurance, but it would only cover about half of the bill due to various exclusions and excesses, meaning she still needed to stump up another £4,000 herself.

And the spending didn’t stop there.

“Over the past two years, Calypso has cost me around £13,000 in non-routine vet bills,” Sarina said.

“When I look at her curled up on my lap, when she comes in the middle of the day wanting a cuddle and when she gets under the duvet at night to sleep next to me, it’s all worth it.

“But to this day, I am still paying off all the vet bills I’ve racked up on my credit card and I’ll be paying them for years.”

Sarina is just one of thousands of pet owners stumping up exorbitant fees to save their animals as the prices soar year on year.

Experts say this is due to an increasing lack of competition in the market as independent practices are being bought by larger firms.

Claims data from John Lewis Insurance, provided exclusively to Sun Money, shows average vet bills for a range of common incidents have risen anywhere from 70 per cent to 105 per cent over the past four years alone.

The average cost of treating a lack of appetite in cats soared by 105 per cent from £547.72 in 2020 to £1,125 in 2024, the data showed.

While the typical cost of treating a lump for a dog jumped from £554.83 in 2020 to £940 in 2024, a rise of 70 per cent.

Bills are rising much more steeply for some animals than others.

For example, the price of treatment for vomiting, one of the most common ailments, increased by 28 per cent for dogs between 2020 and 2024, but just 2.6 per cent for cats.

Meanwhile analysis by Tesco Insurance found that the average cost of a claim for illness for cats was £796, while for dogs it was £964.

The huge rise in fees has led to owners being pushed into debt.

More than 11million people are thought to have less than £1,000 in savings to cover unexpected bills, according to the Resolution Foundation.

Other owners are not giving their pets treatment because they can’t afford it, even if it means that their beloved animal suffers.

Research by John Lewis Pet Insurance found almost a quarter (23 per cent) of customers had been forced to stop treatment for their pet due to unexpected or increased vet fees.

And Tesco Insurance found a quarter (25 per cent) of owners said they were concerned they would not be able to afford their pets’ upkeep in future.

Axel Lagercrantz, boss of store Pets4Homes, explained many independent veterinarians have been bought by six larger corporations, and this is creating a monopoly in the market.

He said: “The UK vet industry has changed massively over the past decade.

“The share of independent vets in Britain has dropped from 98 per cent to a staggering 40 per cent, and those that remain are being bought by six big players.

“The lack of competition this situation creates means that practices can charge much higher prices.”

He added that veterinary care has witnessed “rapid technological advances” which could reduce costs but there is no incentive for large practices to offer these cheaper methods.

He said: “Large corporate groups in the veterinary sector may have incentive to promote more comprehensive, advanced treatments because they have already invested in costly equipment to offer services.”

PROTECT AGAINST PET COSTS

WHEN you visit a vet, ask about the specifics of what treatment is needed plus how much it will cost – then see if there are areas you could cut costs on without compromising on care.

Vet Martin Stevens said: “My number one piece of advice is to always ask questions about any treatment that is recommended.

“Be sure to check about any potential medicines, necessary overnight stays, and any post-treatment needs.

“This will give you a full picture of the costs and care required.

“Vets are always happy to help and want pet owners to feel comfortable.”

Pet insurance can help protect you from vet bills.

Depending on the type of cover, it should pay out a lump sum to cover the cost of your vet bills.

According to Compare The Market, the average cost of pet insurance is £116 a year but cover for dogs tends to be more expensive, costing around £137 a year, while for cats the average yearly cost is £76.

Be aware that insurance costs tend to rise as your pet gets older or if they have any pre-existing conditions.

Always compare prices using at least two comparison websites as well as getting quotes from insurers such as Direct Line and Petplan who don’t appear on them.

Some pet owners choose to self-insure, which is when they put money aside each month into a savings account to pay for any potential pet emergency.

But make sure you would be able to come up with the money in an emergency or you could be in trouble if your pet needs aid before you have built up savings.

You may be able to get free or cheaper vet treatment if you are on certain benefits through charities such as the PDSA and Blue Cross.

Check if you’re eligible at pdsa.org.uk/pet-help-and-advice/eligibility.

Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme – Sun Club.

Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@news.co.uk.

Plus, you can join our Sun Money Chats and Tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories

THE Rangers Charity Foundation has been credited with helping turn the life of a Glasgow man around.

Alex Scott attended – and now volunteers at – the organisation‘s Recovery Drop Ins which are run every week in partnership with South Community Recovery Network.

Rangers Charity Foundation

Alex Scott turned his life around with help from the Rangers Charity Foundation[/caption]

Rangers Charity Foundation

Now he volunteers to help those who need it most[/caption]

These sessions provide a safe and friendly space for people, like Alex, who are recovering from addiction to meet and help each other.

Alex is from Possilpark and has been sharing his experience: “Growing up in the seventies in Glasgow, there was a lot of poverty.

“You could say my childhood was difficult. I grew up with alcoholic parents, which for me seemed standard. Going through school I was a shy wee guy and with alcohol being involved at home and there being fights and things like that, I was always quite reserved.

“I was introduced to solvents at the age of 12 and through using those, I started feeling a bit more confident in myself and rebelling in class. I ended up becoming the class clown and at the time, I thrived on that because I didn’t get that attention in the house.”

This led to a destructive spiral of increasing substance usage.

Alex had grown up dreaming of being a footballer, but being dropped from the football team dented his confidence – he left school and his aspirations became just to get by.

As a teenager he tried boxing to pass the time, but solvent use impacted his commitment. He said: “When I wasn’t involved in anything to keep me occupied, I started hanging around in streets and closes with the wrong crowds and before I knew it, I had a needle in my arm at the age of 16.

“From that point on, my life revolved around using hard drugs.

“I didn’t have any real role models in my life, so the only people I could look up to were the same individuals that I was up the closes with and that’s how I ended up myself.

“I found myself in a lot of codependent relationships and not knowing how to live a real life free of solvents and hard drugs. In fact, you could probably describe it as existing rather than living.

“In 1998 I heard about methadone, and I was on that for 25 years while still using different drugs because I didn’t know how to stop.

“I did try to stop, and I had mild success, if you could call it that, but I could never stay completely clean. I was in and out of hospital, and I was just isolating myself away from the world.

“My life just became monotonous, and my mental health took a real dip. I thought I was in control of my using but through working on myself and looking back, I can see that I clearly wasn’t.”

The “utter carnage” continued until Alex was 52, when he landed in hospital and told a nurse he couldn’t continue living that way. This led to an outreach worker bringing him to a Recovery Drop In.

Connecting with others and telling his stories seemed daunting at first, but the support from volunteers helped him towards recovery: “For me, the main thing coming here gave me was a chance to escape the isolation I was imposing on myself.

“Connecting with other people that were on their own recovery journey and getting a bite to eat and chat really put me on a better path.

“It also gave me some structure to my life and a purpose to get up and out the door in the morning and try break that cycle of monotony.”

Once he was consistently attending he was asked to start volunteering, which he says has changed his life completely:  “It wasn’t an easy journey because when I came down at first my behaviour could probably be described as erratic, but the volunteering definitely helped with that, and I feel like I’ve matured a lot.

“What volunteering and chairing these meetings is teaching me is how to be responsible, punctual, committed and all these things are helping me prepare for employment because that’s probably my next step.

“My life has changed dramatically since attending Recovery. Just one example of that is that I had never had a passport before coming here.

“Now I can say I’ve been abroad and worked with Erasmus, which has been a great experience and something I never would have been able to do.

“I feel more at peace within myself, and I’ve got more self-esteem and self-worth which has turned me into the person that I am today. I am proud to say that as of a couple of weeks ago, I’m three years clean. It’s amazing to think that for 40 years I couldn’t go a day without using.”

The foundation’s Recovery Drop Ins take place on Mondays and Wednesdays, you can find more information here.

Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page

A COUPLE believe they were destined to wed — as they have consecutive birth certificate numbers.

Chris and Julia Miles said they could not believe their eyes when they spotted the coincidence eight years into their marriage.

Doug Seeburg

Chris and Julia Miles are convinced they were meant to be after discovering their birth certificates have consecutive numbers[/caption]

Doug Seeburg

The numbers on the birth certificate suggest both sets of parents must have been at the register office at the same time on February 27, 1975[/caption]

Doug Seeburg

The couple’s moment of ‘destiny’ at their wedding in 2002[/caption]

They put the paperwork side-by-side and saw Chris’s number was 081419, and Julia’s 081420.

It meant their parents must have been at the register office at the same time on February 27, 1975.

Electrician Chris said: “When we saw the certificates I was like, ‘Bloody hell!’. It shows it was fate from the day we were born.

“We believe this is totally unique to the world. We will have been next to each other in the registry office waiting room.”

Both were born at Oxford’s John Radcliffe Hospital — Julie on February 23, 1975, and Chris on the 26th.

“Eighteen years later their paths crossed again when they fell in love at first sight at an Oxford pub.

They bought a home together in 1999, wed in 2002 and have sons Ben, 20, and Harry, 14.

They clocked the certificate coincidence when sorting paperwork in 2010.

Today, the couple, who still live in Oxford, are holding a huge party for their 50th birthdays.

Chris added: “We’ll take the certificates to display on the way in.

“Our parents don’t remember seeing each other when they registered us, but they must have been sat together in the waiting room, and in front of the same registrar. It’s just bonkers.”

Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches its brand new membership programme – Sun Club.

RTE Late Late Show viewers were all left praising Fiona Shaw after tonight’s interview.

The BAFTA-winning actress joined host Patrick Kielty to discuss her renowned career in film and TV which spans over five decades.

RTE

Fiona Shaw sat down with Patrick Kielty tonight[/caption]

RTE

Fiona spoke fondly about Cork[/caption]

RTE

RTE viewers all adored Kathryn Thomas[/caption]

The Cork star spoke about her iconic roles in hit TV shows such as Bad Sisters and Killing Eve, as well as her much-beloved film character in the Harry Potter franchise and My Left Foot.

She came to the RTE studio straight from the Dublin premiere of her latest film Park Avenue at the Dublin International Film Festival.

Fiona grew up in Cobh, Cork, with her mum Mary, dad Denis and three brothers, John, Mark and Peter.

And Fiona revealed tonight that despite her busy schedule, she often heads back down to the rebel county to see her elderly mum.

She explained: “I’m there a lot because my mother is very old now. She’s 99 next month.

“We seem to go back and forth a lot and that’s been very, very nice. I mean, you kind of feel you’re getting off a horse, and you’re thinking, ‘God, this place has changed’.

“I was away, I was often in the theatre and therefore away or on tour so often. I mean, I was always back for Christmas, but I’m getting to know Cork and West Cork and if ever I can escape up west.

“And I’m kind of discovering the country like a tourist and like a Yank.”

RTE viewers were all blown away by Fiona and raced to social media with compliments.

Ciara tweeted: “Didn’t realise Fiona Shaw was from Cork!!! What a woman.”

Grace said: “Fiona Shaw is our current favourite Irish actor. She’s actually phenomenal.”

Amanda commented: “Fiona Shaw the most underrated actor.”

Karen remarked: “I want her to be my best friend.”

Doieann Garrihy also sat down with Patrick and opened up about being bullied as a teen.

The 2FM host had noted that being held responsible is the nature of her profession, but some people also go over-the-top in calling her out.

TOUGH TIME

And a specific experience in her youth has afforded her a thick skin meaning much of the negativity sent her way doesn’t affect her.

She said: “I was in secondary school around the time Bebo was a big thing. And listen, it comes with being a teenager as well.

“You’re sometimes in the firing line. Sometimes you’re not. I happened to be for about two years, and my parents actually were amazing at that time.

“They’ve always been very good at actually saying to us what’s going on, and sitting down every day and saying, ‘Is there anything you want to say to us’, or, ‘Anything you want to tell us?’, and just be really open with us?

“I had a tough time in fourth and fifth year, and I’m really glad actually, that my it wasn’t in my pocket. Mobile phones weren’t a big thing then, because I think that’s a massive challenge for parents and for teenagers these days and trying to navigate that.

“I’m sure it’s really difficult, but I think being open with young people and just saying, ‘You can tell me if there’s something going on’, ‘We can figure it out’.

“My parents, they didn’t intervene. They just kind of went, ‘Okay, at least we know you need to try and figure this out, because if we intervene, it’ll undermine you, and you were able to sort it out’.”

THE Man from Del Monte has been replaced by retired Pauline Crosby — who could star in new telly adverts.

The 74-year-old ex-servicewoman was offered the brand ambassador role after winning a public vote.

Supplied

YouTube

Del Monte’s 1980s adverts featured actor Brian Jackson in a linen suit and Panama hat as he tested the ripeness of fruit[/caption]

US canned fruit giant Del Monte’s 1980s adverts featured actor Brian Jackson in a linen suit and Panama hat as he tested the ripeness of fruit.

Farmers waited for him to give the nod before yelling: “The Man from Del Monte, he say yes!”

Pauline, of Crosby, Norfolk, has six grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren.

She said: “This is such a privilege. We all remember the Man from Del Monte adverts and they still make me smile.

“But today it’s all about ­celebrating family traditions and creativity in the kitchen.

“I’ve spent my life preserving these traditions and sharing them with my family and I’m thrilled Del Monte saw that passion.”

Pauline was nominated for the role by her granddaughter Poppie Capper, 30.

She said: “She’s warm, kind and offers valuable, advice when needed.”

Del Monte marketing chief Thierry Montange said: “We wanted to ensure family recipes are preserved for future generations.

“Pauline truly embodies the spirit of this initiative.”

RUSSIA is on track to lose a million soldiers to death and injury by its so-called Victory Day.

The toll from Putin’s bloodbath already stands at 860,000 Kremlin casualties, according to UK defence intelligence.

Reuters

UK defence intelligence sources say the toll from Putin’s bloodbath already stands at 860,000 Kremlin casualties[/caption]

AFP

Moscow has been losing an average of 1,500 troops a day since November.

If it stays on the current trajectory, Russia will lose another 115,000 dead and injured by May 9, when Putin and his stooges gather in the Red Square for their annual World War Two military parade.

The losses would bring the toll of dead and injured to 975,000.

And the eye-watering figures undermine Donald Trump’s claims that Russia “holds the cards” in any peace talks.

Former Tory Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said: “Russia is facing ­catastrophic losses and a broken economy.

“Putin is playing poker with an empty hand, but it seems he may have bluffed the United States.”

The MoD said Russia was forcing its mobilised soldiers to sign contracts to keep them in service — or they will be thrown into meat-grinder fights, where the chance of survival is just ten per cent.

It comes after Trump appalled allies by claiming that Ukraine started the war and that President Zelensky was a dictator.

He then said on Thursday: “I think the Russians want to see the war end, I really do. I think they have the cards a little bit, because they’ve taken a lot of territory. They have the cards.”

Britain has continued to reject Trump’s claims.

On Thursday, Foreign Secretary David Lammy said at the G20 in South Africa: “If Putin is serious about a lasting peace it means finding a way ­forward which respects Ukraine’s sovereignty.”

DOIREANN Garrihy opened up about how being bullied gave her a thicker skin for online trolls on RTE Late Late Show.

Patrick Kielty returned to Montrose tonight for another epsiode of the hit-chat show with Doieann Garrihy, Mario Rosentsock, Fiona Shaw and Kathryn Thomas.

RTE

Doireann Garrihy was the Late Late Show tonight[/caption]

RTE

Doireann opened up about being bullied as a teen[/caption]

The Down comic was joined at the top of the show by Doireann where she started off by discussing her return to RTE 2FM.

She said: “I had done four years of breakfast, ten years of kind of mad busyness, and I just needed a bit of a break, and so I took a leap of faith and took a break.

“I never could have anticipated how much I would miss it. I knew I would miss it. I just didn’t think I would miss it as much with the year as it was kind of planned out. I knew what I had coming up. I was obviously getting married.”

At the same time many of the station’s other famous faces departed Doireann left, but her departure sparked controversy as she had posted a paid AD while still working for the broadcaster.

Doireann explained: “That wasn’t a pleasant time. I made a mistake at the time, and obviously I have a responsibility working for the national broadcaster.

“I shouldn’t have done it. I was reprimanded at the time. I apologised… I apologise, and we live and learn.”

Doireann noted that being held responsible is the nature of her profession, but some people also go over-the-top in calling her out.

And a specific experience in her youth has afforded her a thick skin meaning much of the negativity sent her way doesn’t affect her.

She said: “I was in secondary school around the time Bebo was a big thing. And listen, it comes with being a teenager as well.

“You’re sometimes in the firing line. Sometimes you’re not. I happened to be for about two years, and my parents actually were amazing at that time.

“They’ve always been very good at actually saying to us what’s going on, and sitting down every day and saying, ‘Is there anything you want to say to us’, or, ‘Anything you want to tell us?’, and just be really open with us?

“I had a tough time in fourth and fifth year, and I’m really glad actually, that my it wasn’t in my pocket. Mobile phones weren’t a big thing then, because I think that’s a massive challenge for parents and for teenagers these days and trying to navigate that.

DOIR-LIGHTED

“I’m sure it’s really difficult, but I think being open with young people and just saying, ‘You can tell me if there’s something going on’, ‘We can figure it out’.

“My parents, they didn’t intervene. They just kind of went, ‘Okay, at least we know you need to try and figure this out, because if we intervene, it’ll undermine you, and you were able to sort it out’.”

RTE viewers flocked to social media to express their views.

Eimear said: “I like Doireann. She seems like a very down-to-earth girl.”

Patrick added: “Brilliant show tonight. Great conversations..”

Anoter viewer added: “Doireann looks gorgeous”

A BRITISH hiker who plunged to his death while trekking along a “banned route” in the Himalayas has been identified as 27-year-old Tom Howard.

The Durham University graduate tragically died on Monday after falling from a “considerable height” while on India’s Triund Trek with his friend Robert Emerton, 27.

Facebook

A Durham University graduate has been identified as the British tourist who died after falling in the Himalayas[/caption]

Getty

The Dhauladhar Mountain range[/caption]

It’s thought the pair were unaware of a local ban on high-altitude trekking in the winter seasons, cops said.

Software engineer Tom, originally from Weybridge, Surrey, fell and suffered severe injuries during the 5.5-mile mountain trek.

His friend Robert, an auditor, walked two-and-a-half hours to get help from the nearby village of Thathri, on the outskirts of Dharamshala.

A 10-man rescue team were dispatched at around 6:30pm on Sunday where they sadly found Tom in a “critical condition” before evacuating him on a stretcher.

It took rescuers more than a day to bring the tourist down the hill due to the tricky terrain, with officials saying it took close to two hours to cover just 100 metres.

A second team was dispatched to assist in the emergency, reaching the original group at 8am on Monday.

By the early afternoon, a third team were required and were sent out to support, reaching the rescue site at 4pm.

Tom was brought down to an ambulance after 5pm on Monday – having been injured for more than a day – and was tragically pronounced dead in hospital.

A post-mortem exam conducted at a hospital in Dharamshala revealed the 27-year-old Brit had suffered from “severe chest and abdomen injuries” and a lacerated liver.

The hospital’s medical superintendent, Dr Anuradha Sharma, said his fall “must have been from a considerable height”.

Tom and Robert are thought to have met in 2015 as undergraduate students at the prestigious Durham University.

Tom had attended Cranleigh School prior to university, where he was a prefect.

He also earned a master’s degree in natural sciences at Durham before joining the London-based Quantexa – the financial security firm – after graduating.

A spokesperson for the firm said: “We were deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Tom Howard, who was a talented and valued colleague at Quantexa.

“Our thoughts are with his family and friends during this difficult time.”

An FCDO spokesperson told The Sun: “We are supporting the family of a British man who has died in India and are in contact with the local authorities.”

Due to the dangers of winter conditions, trekking above 3,000 meters is currently prohibited in the area, which includes Triund and its surroundings.

According to the authorities, hikers are exposed to serious risks from extreme weather and heavy snowfall.

Getty

The Dhauladhar range is a southern branch of the main Outer Himalayan chain of mountains[/caption]

LUKE HEENEY’S first goal in 4½ years iced the cake on Drogheda United’s homecoming party as Sligo Rovers were put to the sword.

Goals in each half from Josh Thomas and Darragh Markey had Kevin Doherty’s team in command.

Thomas Flinkow/Sportsfile

That was before stalwart Heeney bagged a rare goal in injury time, his first since the First Division-clinching win over Cabinteely in 2020.

At least this time there was a crowd here to see it — and a big one at that.

Sullivan & Lambe Park welcomed 2,312 fans for the Drogs’ first home game of the season and their first since the FAI Cup win last November.

The faithful were keen to see their heroes once again — and craved a winning start.

United were at it from the off and Sligo obliged by failing to put it up to them in any real sense.

On-loan Swansea City striker Thomas scored his first career league goal to hand them the lead.

He had already looked a real threat to the Bit O’Red defence before he applied a finish to Shane Farrell’s square pass.

The ex-Shelbourne man had himself gone close earlier on.

He brilliantly wove his way to the edge of the area but Sam Sargeant just managed to turn his shot around the post.

Markey’s last league goal came against Sligo ten months ago.

He had Warren Davis and Owen Lambe to thank for working the ball his way for Drogs’ second as his strike beat Sargeant.

Cian Kavanagh was flagged for offside late on, with the ball in the net.

And Heeney found the net in the 94th minute for a very, very rare goal.

SUN STAR MAN

Darragh Markey (Drogs)

DROGHEDA UNITED: Dennison 7; Quinn 7, Keeley 6, Bolger 6; Lambe 7, Farrell 7, Brennan 6 (Heeney 89, 6), Kane 7; Markey 8; Bawa 6 (Oluwa 62, 5), Thomas 7 (Davis 72, 7).

SLIGO ROVERS: Sargeant 5; Lintott 5 (Van Hattum 69, 5), Denham 6, Mahon 6, Hutchinson 6; Hakiki 7 (Manning 84, 6), Doyle-Hayes 6 (Lomboto 69, 5), Malley 6; Elding 5, Fitzgerald 5; Kavanagh 6.

REFEREE: D Dunne (Dublin) 6.

ELITE Royal Marine commandos train for Actic Special Ops as Britain opens talks with Norway counter threats from Russia in the High North.

Defence Secretary John Healey met his counterpart Tore Sandvik at Norway’s Bodo military HQ buried deep inside a mountain.

PA

Elite Royal Marine commandos train for arctic Special Ops[/caption]

PA

Healey said a “new era of threat” demanded new kinds of defence.

He said: “We will create a new era of defence partnership to bring us closer than ever before as we tackle increasing threats, strengthen Nato, and boost our security in the High North.”

Ex-SBS boss General Sir Gwynn Jenkins met troops from the Surveillance Reconnaissance Squadron on the spy ship RFA Proteus.

The MoD said the troops, who can deploy from nuclear submarines, were “training for special operations in the High North”.

The commandos are set to join 7,000 troops on exercise Joint Viking.

Putin’s plans to carve up the arctic were highlighted by the presence of Vladimir Proskuryakov, an arctic expert, at peace talks US officials in Saudi Arabia last week.

Proskuryakov is normally based at the Russian embassy in Canada.

Russian officials did not explain his role at Riyadh talks.