It’s a statistic that stops you in your tracks: 1 in 6 Australian pet owners are now seriously considering rehoming their beloved animals because they simply can't afford to keep them. As the cost-of-living crisis deepens, the bond between humans and their "fur babies" is being pushed to a breaking point.

Brent is joined by Naomi Mancktelow from the Petstock Foundation. We’re pulling back the curtain on the "quiet crisis" facing our living rooms and shelters. From owners skipping their own meals to feed their dogs, to the thousands of perfectly trained pets sitting in rescue centers, we explore the reality of pet ownership in 2026 and how a community-led "Buddy" system is trying to keep families together.