Timo Tierney, who has worked at The Florrie community centre in Liverpool for ten years, says people come to him in tears because they cannot afford to feed their pets. He described the situation as people skipping meals so their animals can eat.
“Many of the people who used to come in and donate food are now queuing up for food. The reality is that things have gotten worse for lots of people over the last few years,” he said.
People skipping meals for their pets
In reference to The Florrie’s food programme, which supports people experiencing food poverty, Timo added: “For too long now, people have come in who cannot feed themselves or their families, and the tragedy of that is overwhelming.”
“We are now getting people coming in who are really upset, devastated really, because they haven’t got any money to feed their dogs or cats. These are people who are skipping meals for their pets, and would rather they eat before they do.”
Timo told of one recent incident involving a man who walked into The Florrie and broke down in tears, not because of his own hunger, but because his cat had not eaten in days and he had no money left to feed it. “It was truly heart-breaking to be honest,” said Timo, “but it’s not just the food by the way, it’s also the fuel and energy costs to prepare and cook the food. That’s how bad it's got now.”
The importance of pets to people's wellbeing
The situation raises the prospect that some may be forced to give up pets altogether simply to survive – something Timo describes as a double loss, given the wellbeing that animals bring to their owners.
He speaks from experience: “I’m out in the park with my dog each day. It’s not just for exercising him but it brings me joy, stopping to speak to people in the community, catching up, sharing the highs and lows of life.”
“If some of these people have to give up their pets then that’s really heart-breaking and unacceptable for so many reasons.”
Yet Timo is keen not to let the story tip too deeply into despair: “I really have to force myself to remember all of the good I see and how people rally around and support each other in times of need. That keeps me sane in all honesty.”
Community rallying round
Timo posted about these issues on Facebook and was inundated with offers of help, from people keen to help those in need, and also let them know they are valued and understood.
Local councillor Steve Munby, who holds some of his surgeries at The Florrie, said: “My motto locally is 'in the Dingle we look after each other' and I think that’s true of Liverpool as a whole. Long may that continue.”
Describing his growing concern, both in terms of the scale of need and the level of hardship, Cllr Munby said: “People are definitely struggling.”
“In 28 years as a councillor I’ve never known anything like it. It started with austerity and Covid amped it up a gear.”
“It’s not just surgeries, every morning I’ll wake up to text messages, emails and phone calls from people wanting help. At least half are from outside my ward, but I’m not going to turn people away.”
Impact of ongoing cost of living crisis
More than 2.6m emergency food parcels were distributed across the UK in 2025, according to the most recent figures provided by the Trussell Trust. Approximately 912,000 of these parcels were allocated for children.
Foodbank operators have warned the level of need remains “extremely high”, and around 45% higher than before the pandemic in 2019, while repeat visits have surged by 35% over the same period. National voucher data reveals that 72% of referred individuals were simply unable to cover basic living essentials.
Research from the University of Liverpool in 2024 showed that many people accessing foodbanks are those experiencing in-work poverty, finding that post-pandemic welfare laws are interacting with inadequate employment rights to embed the risk of food insecurity in agreements to work in low-wage sectors.
Cllr Munby highlights some of the support he is signposting people to, including the new Crisis and Resilience fund, administered by the city council, which has helped provide fuel grants and other forms of provision over the summer holidays. He estimates nearly half of those seeking help with fuel costs are not receiving the benefits they are entitled to, and refers them to the council’s Financial Inclusion Team.
Toll on people's mental health
Cllr Munby reserves special praise for community intervention and the work that goes on which makes a difference to people’s lives. He said: “It’s all taken a toll on people’s mental health [...but] our community anchors are working to support people.”
The Florrie, St Cleopas, Toxteth Town Hall and Team Oasis have all been providing food support, and they’ll be providing 500 Christmas dinners for pensioners at The Florrie in early December, as well as organising home deliveries, with the help of local cabbies.
Shieldwall and The Florrie Men’s Walking Group - now joined by a women’s group - organise activities so people can meet up, socialise and create the community bonds so vital in facilitating support to those who need it.
