Only 18 percent still have capacity
Bonn. According to a trend survey* by the German Animal Welfare Association, 69 percent of animal shelters report that their capacity is at least very high. 49 percent of them are full or even overcrowded. Only 18 percent have any capacity to take in animals at all. As a result of the corona-related pet boom with ill-considered animal purchases followed by general cost increases and an adjustment of the veterinary fee schedule, the flood of surrendered and abandoned animals is enormous. The lack of a nationwide castration requirement for outdoor cats also contributes to overcrowding with unwanted kittens as well as stray cats and orphaned kittens from street cats. In many places, admissions are stopped.
“The number of people who want to get rid of their animals seems to be higher than ever before. The animal shelters are overburdened and can no longer stand up for every animal in need,” warns Thomas Schröder, President of the German Animal Welfare Association, who accuses those responsible for politics of failure: “Anyone who lets charitable animal welfare bleed dry, does not stop online animal trading and allows anyone to spontaneously buy an animal is partly to blame for the fact that the animal shelters are at their limit.” Schröder also sharply criticizes the fact that the traffic light coalition has not allocated any funds in the federal budget for the consumption foundation for animal shelters promised in the coalition agreement.
Repeated recording stops
82 percent of the animal shelters surveyed by the German Animal Welfare Association report that the number of animals to be cared for has increased since 2022, i.e. as the corona pandemic has leveled off and as a result of the pet boom. However, the number of animals that an animal shelter can accommodate in a way that is appropriate for animals is limited. Because – according to 74 percent of the animal shelters surveyed – an increasing number of sick animals ended up in the shelter and have difficulty finding a new home, many places remain occupied for a long time. The same applies to dogs that have developed problematic behavior – often due to a lack of expertise on the part of the previous owners and their lack of motivation to work with their animals. In many animal shelters, admission freezes have to be imposed again and again. Anyone who wants to give up their animal must therefore currently expect to end up on a waiting list or have to find another solution for their animal. “As an owner, you are responsible for your animal and animal shelters are not obliged to take in unwanted animals – many people do not realize this,” says Schröder. Nevertheless, every animal rights activist's heart bleeds when there is simply not enough capacity to take an animal into safe care. People want to help, but in many places they can no longer do so, said the Animal Welfare Association president.
Overwhelmed by ill-considered purchases is often a reason for giving up
According to the survey, the main reasons for giving up animals are excessive demands, lack of time, dog biting incidents and increased veterinary costs. For some owners, summer vacation can also be the last straw, so they decide to part with their animal for good. The German Animal Welfare Association therefore strongly advises that owners do their homework before purchasing an animal so that they can live up to their responsibilities while their pet is alive.
*Trend survey: in cooperation with Fressnapf among the animal shelters affiliated with the German Animal Welfare Association; May 2024; sample: n = 218