Global Abandonment

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Information on pet abandonment in the US and Canada:

United States:

  • Approximately 3.3 million pets enter US animal shelters every year. Of those, approximately 660,000 are euthanized (ASPCA).
  • Each year, between 6-8 million cats and dogs are relinquished to animal shelters across the country (HSUS).
  • In 2018, approximately 1.5 million shelter animals were adopted, but still approximately 625,000 were euthanized (ASPCA).

Canada:

  • An estimated 150,000-250,000 pets are abandoned in Canada every year (Canadian Food Inspection Agency).
  • Cities reporting the highest abandonment rates tend to be major urban centers like Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver.
  • Most animal shelters in Canada operate at or above capacity levels, with some seeing pet intake numbers up to 30-40% higher than average (Ontario SPCA).

Causes of abandonment include owners moving and not taking their pets, lack of consideration for pet commitment, behavior/training issues, cost of care, and family changes like new babies. Spay/neuter programs, microchipping laws, and adoption promotions have helped lower euthanasia numbers over time in both countries. Still, abandonment remains a significant animal welfare issue.

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Information on pet abandonment in the UK:

  • The number of abandoned pets has increased significantly in recent years. In 2017, the RSPCA handled over 80,000 incidents relating to abandoned or stray animals.
  • Cats are the most commonly abandoned pet – the Cats Protection estimates that around 60,000 stray or unwanted cats are added to the UK’s cat population every year due to abandonment.
  • The most common time for abandonment is summer – many animals are given up as owners go on vacation or when children return to school. July and August see a 25% rise in abandoned pets compared to other months.
  • The cost of living crisis in the UK is believed to be a major contributor to the rise in pet dumping. Difficult financial choices force some owners to abandon their pets as the cost of food, supplies and veterinary care becomes unaffordable.
  • Around a quarter of all pet abandonments occur within the first year of acquiring a new pet. Many owners fail to consider the long term commitment and responsibility of pet care and surrender animals when lifestyle changes occur.
  • Certain breeds like cats, rabbits and small mammals have a particularly high abandonment rate. They are often impulse purchases that owners grow tired of caring for permanently.
  • Under the Animals Act 1971, abandoning an animal in the UK is illegal and punishable by a fine of up to £20,000 and/or a 2yr jail sentence. However enforcement remains difficult as anonymous dumping is hard to trace.
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Information on pet abandonment in Australia:

  • Over 300,000 dogs and cats are abandoned in Australia every year according to RSPCA estimates.
  • Abandonment rates surge over summer holidays as many families give up pets before heading on vacation. Peak months are December to February.
  • Young adult dogs between 1-3 years old have the highest rates of abandonment as their rambunctious behaviors become problematic for owners.
  • Rural areas see high levels of abandoned livestock guardian dogs when families move off farms or can no longer care for large breed needs.
  • The stray cat population has exploded in many cities due to abandonment. Sydney alone harbors an estimated 400,000 stray and feral cats posing welfare issues.
  • Cost of pet ownership is a key factor as unplanned veterinary bills, training costs and routine care become unaffordable for some families.
  • Stricter council laws around animal numbers per household have unintentionally driven more abandonment as downsizing forces owners to abandon surplus pets.
  • Only about 1 in 5 abandoned dogs and cats are reclaimed by original owners. Most become long-term shelter residents or are euthanized due to overcrowding.
  • Under Australian animal welfare laws, abandonment is an offense carrying potential fines of up to $33,000 and prison sentences. Prosecution remains difficult due to lack of ID on stray animals.
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Information on pet abandonment in Europe:

  • It’s estimated that around 3 million cats and dogs are abandoned across Europe every year.
  • In Italy, an estimated 80,000 dogs and cats are abandoned annually, many left in busy areas without food or water.
  • Spain struggles with high abandonment rates, particularly of fighting dogs after summer. Over 250,000 pets were collected as strays in 2016.
  • Greece has seen a massive increase in stray animals, with the number of dogs growing from 50,000 to over 500,000 since the start of the economic crisis.
  • Russia has over 5 million stray dogs roaming cities due to widespread owner surrender and lack of neutering programs.
  • In France, shelters care for around 100,000 animals that are abandoned yearly, with summer seeing a significant rise in puppies and kittens given up.
  • Germany’s shelters typically care for around 300,000 animals annually, though austerity and migration strains resources.
  • Overall, southern European countries tend to report the highest abandonment rates related to unplanned purchases, seasonal tourism fluxes, and economic hardships.
  • Across the EU, public awareness campaigns are working to reduce the practice through education on animal welfare and lifetime pet commitment.
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Information on pet abandonment in Scandinavia

  • Norway has relatively low abandonment rates, with around 5,000 pets surrendered annually. Costs of ownership are supported through subsidies.
  • In Sweden, an estimated 10,000-15,000 cats and dogs are abandoned each year. This is speculated to be an increase from previous decades.
  • Finland reports about 20,000 abandoned pets annually. Kennel clubs work to mitigate this through educational programs on proper ownership.
  • Denmark has high pet ownership but sees roughly 15,000 animals relinquished to shelters per year, especially during vacations/holidays.
  • Iceland’s cat and dog populations have boomed, but abandonment rose accordingly to over 2,000 strays yearly as responsibility was underestimated.
  • Rural areas in all Scandinavian countries experience more abandonments of livestock guardian breeds as farms convert uses.
  • Lack of affordable spay/neuter options and roaming animal bylaws likely contribute to abandonment risks compared to regulated nations.
  • However, strong cultural emphasis on animal welfare and progressive laws keep overall rates lower versus regions like southern Europe. Education continues making headway.
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Information about pet abandonment in India

  • Stray dog populations are a major issue, with estimates ranging from 25-40 million dogs roaming urban streets nationwide.
  • Many dogs were formerly kept as guards or worked on farms but were left to wander as agriculture modernized and lifestyles changed.
  • Abandonment of puppies by their mothers is common in summer heat waves and rains due to lack of socialization and malnutrition in street dogs.
  • Cats also face high levels of abandonment, though numbers are harder to determine. It’s estimated there are 8-10 million homeless cats in India.
  • Religious taboos against keeping or handling dogs, rumors about rabies, and superstitions all contribute to abandonment, especially in rural areas.
  • In major cities like Delhi and Mumbai, campaigns aim to control rabies through mass sterilization programs to contain abandoning of pups by mothers.
  • However, poverty remains a major barrier as caring for strays is seen as less important than basic human needs by many communities.
  • Public adoption and fostering is still a newer concept in India compared to Western programs. Traditions of pet ownership differ significantly across regions.
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Information on pet abandonment in the Far East.

  • China has seen a boom in pet ownership but lacks robust policies governing welfare. Experts believe millions of pets are abandoned each year.
  • Small breed dogs and exotic/designer pets are most at risk as fashions change. Many roam urban centers underfed and unsocialized.
  • In Japan, the culture attaches less importance to keeping pets for life than Western ones. An estimated 150,000 are taken to shelters annually, often surrendered by relocating families.
  • South Korea grapples with over 500,000 stray dogs countrywide, partly resulting from lack of spay/neuter efforts. Abandoning pups by tied/caged mothers is an issue.
  • Taiwan works to contain strays through large-scale neutering programs that have curbed abandonment numbers to under 100,000 yearly.
  • Parts of Southeast Asia still view many pets as disposable, and rapid development has severed human-animal bonds in rural communities.
  • Lack of enforceable anti-cruelty laws and cultural habits of discarding pets seen as troublesome hamper solutions in some areas.
  • However, rising welfare awareness shifts attitudes steadily, aided by promotion of adoption over breeding/buying across Asia.