July 9, 2024, 2:18 pm | Read time: 3 minutes
During the vacation season, a question that often arises for many pet owners is: where to take our four-legged friend? Not everyone solves this problem responsibly. Particularly during the vacation season, more and more pets are left in shelters or, in the worst case, abandoned somewhere. This has consequences.
The summer months, which are eagerly anticipated for vacations and travel by many, also mark a “sad high season” for animal shelters. Every year during the vacation season, more pets are being handed in to animal shelters or left on their doorsteps. This is reported by the German Animal Welfare Association. Dogs, cats, and small animals are also repeatedly abandoned somewhere.
Each year, approximately 350,000 new animals find themselves in German animal shelters
“Abandoning an animal solely for the purpose of taking a vacation or trip is completely irresponsible and lacks empathy,” spokeswoman Lea Schmitz told the German Press Agency. There are some drastic cases: “Unfortunately, sometimes animals are not found early enough and die in agony.”
According to Schmitz, there are no exact figures for abandoned animals. She reports that animal shelters throughout Germany take in an estimated 350,000 new animals annually. These are primarily found animals, i.e., animals that are picked up without owners. Some of these are missing animals that are picked up by their owners, while others are pets that the owners want to get rid of.
Some pets are handed in to the local animal shelter by appointment and for a small fee, explained vet Ralf Unna, Vice President of the NRW State Animal Welfare Association (LTV). Yet, a significant number of owners simply abandon their cats, dogs, hamsters, rabbits, or ornamental birds, leaving them to fend for themselves. For many years now, a correlation has been observed between major school vacations and when animals are surrendered or abandoned.
Covid made the situation worse
The Munich animal shelter, when queried by PETBOOK, also confirmed an increase in pets being given up during the vacation period. “But it’s not as bad as it used to be,” says Kristina Berchtold from Press & Public Relations. Moreover, employees are finding fewer abandoned animals than before. Dogs being found abandoned in the forest or at a rest stop is extremely rare.
“For instance, we frequently receive dogs that appear to have no one searching for them,” Berchtold explains. “It’s easy to suspect that they were abandoned on purpose.” Covid has made the situation even worse, Berchtold notes. “Overall, more pets have been living in German households since then. As a result, more animals end up in animal shelters or on the streets.”
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There are fines of up to 25,000 euros for abandoning an animal
Lea Schmitz clarified that abandoning an animal is not just a minor infraction but an infringement of the law. An offense can be punished with a fine of up to 25,000 euros. If the animal was found to suffer prolonged pain or injury, this may be considered cruelty to animals, with a punishment of up to three years in prison or a fine being handed out.
With material from dpa