Animal Abandonment: How To End An Unsustainable Situation

According to a study by the Affinity Foundation, in 2016, 104,447 dogs and 33,335 abandoned or stray cats were collected in Spain alone. In 2015, the numbers were practically the same and everything indicates that the 2017 data will not be much different. What can we do to improve the situation? How to help animal protection associations? 

Abandoned animal profile and causes of abandonment

The same study identified the characteristics of the animals that arrived at the shelters. Is it true that crossbred animals are abandoned more than those called “pure breed”?

• 81% of the animals and dogs abandoned by their owners have no defined breed. This reinforces the belief that, even today, people prefer to have a purebred animal.

• 30% of abandoned cats and dogs correspond to puppies. 57% to adult animals, and the remaining 32% to elderly animals. The puppies are usually popular among families until, in the case of dogs, come to an unexpected size, which makes them get rid of the animal. Puppies stay in shelters for only a quarter of the time that older animals spend.
• Despite certain unethical practices, this study states that only 32% of sick animals are abandoned, despite the fact that abandonment often occurs due to the possibility of facing veterinary expenses.

As for the causes of abandonment, we can say that they are usually related to unwanted litters that, in the worst case, lead some owners to even sacrifice their young, as well as hunting animals of advanced age that can no longer perform their task.

We can also find cases of dogs that did not receive proper training as puppies and that, when they reach adulthood, become impossible for the owner to care for.

What can society do to improve the situation

First, we must take into account that many animal protection associations depend on the private contributions and work of their volunteers to keep functioning. This means that if the tendency to abandon animals doesn’t diminish, shelters won’t do it soon.

Many protectors even offer credits to college students in exchange for a few hours of volunteer work, or encourage society to participate in sweepstakes or fundraisers that allow them to raise funds.

However, the long-term solution to improve the lives of animals is responsible and supportive behavior on the part of the owners. This goes through:

• Sterilize animals: at a young age, to avoid unwanted litter and complications related to the animal’s reproductive system and hormones.

• Identify your pet with a microchip that allows animal protective associations to return it if it is lost.
• Think before buying or purchasing an animal: remember that a cat or dog will require a few hours of your time, in addition to economic resources. Don’t treat a living thing as an object.
• Adopting instead of buying: As we’ve said in this article, animal protectors can’t handle it and, moreover, adoption is an opportunity to improve the living conditions of a living being.

Small advances in legislation

In December 2017, the Congress of Deputies unanimously supported a law that considers animals as living beings and not things, as animals were previously regarded as chattels.

With this law, the objective was to be inspired by the provisions of the Italian and French civil codes, which have recognized this condition of living beings for a long time. This is another step towards recognizing the rights of animals and the obligations they bring to their owners.