Animals are often abandoned due to changes in their owners' situation, such as moving, allergies, unresolved behavior issues, or a lack of means to care for them.
Getting an animal means committing for several years, but some people don’t really think about that. Many mainly see the cute or fun side of a puppy or a kitten, without imagining the daily constraints. As a result, as soon as the challenges arise (winter walks, veterinary care, frequent cleanups, complicated holidays...), they realize too late what it all implies. Over time, some overwhelmed owners abandon their pet rather than take on these new responsibilities. Many simply haven’t thought clearly about what it truly means to welcome a life into their home.
Giving an animal as a gift may seem like a great idea at first, but often, it ends badly if the person is not ready. Having a pet requires time, patience, and a lot of responsibility. Once the surprise effect wears off, everyday life takes over: outings, veterinary care, kibble, and playtime quickly become a chore. The result? The animal is soon seen as a burden rather than a lovable companion. That cute little kitten or playful puppy has grown up faster than expected, and the person ends up getting rid of it, unable to cope in the long run. Giving a living being requires serious reflection, not just the impulse to fall for a soft fur under a display case.
Sometimes, life changes faster than one could have imagined, and it's the animal that suffers. A move to a new home where pets are not allowed is one of the most common reasons for abandonment. A baby arrives, and suddenly, between work, diapers, and sleepless nights, there's less time to care for the dog or cat. A divorce, a painful separation, or even a death can also put people in a complicated situation where properly caring for their companion becomes impossible. For some, this unfortunately drives them to abandon their pet.
Financial difficulties often arise unexpectedly. One loses their job, bills accumulate, or a significant expense suddenly appears; as a result, it becomes hard to cover the costs of veterinary care, food, or even the everyday expenses of a pet. Many owners quickly find themselves overwhelmed financially, especially since some animals may have regular medical needs that are expensive in the long term. Others face a forced move to a smaller or cheaper place and find themselves unable to keep their companion due to a lack of space or prohibitively high rents for tenants with pets. Unfortunately, these unforeseen situations force individuals to painfully give up their animals, unable to ensure them a good quality of life.
In France, nearly 100,000 pets are abandoned each year, most of them during the summer, due to the difficulties of organizing vacations.
Animal shelters report that animals adopted as surprise gifts are more likely to be abandoned shortly after their adoption.
Temporarily welcoming an animal through a foster family is an excellent way to help shelters while allowing one to test their abilities and responsibilities before a permanent adoption.
According to a recent study, increased awareness of sterilization helps significantly reduce the number of abandonments due to unexpected births in domestic animals.
Yes, there are several options such as temporarily entrusting the animal to a friend or a foster family, seeking help from specialized organizations, or consulting professionals in the animal field.
Associations can provide temporary support for veterinary care or food. Furthermore, regular communication with a veterinarian helps to find suitable solutions to avoid hasty abandonment.
Before giving an animal as a gift, make sure that the recipient genuinely wants to adopt and can take care of a long-term companion. Fully discussing this commitment helps prevent abandonment due to impulsive gifts.
Abandon can lead to deep emotional trauma in animals, such as anxiety, fear, and sadness. Moreover, an abandoned pet is generally not equipped to survive on its own and may face serious dangers.
One must consider the time available to dedicate to the animal, the ongoing financial expenses (food, veterinary care), the space available in one’s home, the temperament of the animal, as well as the long-term commitment that this entails.
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