Affinity Foundation study on the abandonment, loss and adoption … · 2018. 6. 12. · 16.8 17.2 17 19.9 22 % Dogs recovered 25.9 Figure 4 Evolution of the percentage of dogs that

By:

Dr. Jaume Fatjó

Director of the Affinity Foundation Animalsand Health Professorship

Paula Calvo

Researcher of the Affinity Foundation Animalsand Health Professorship

Affinity Foundation study

on the abandonment, loss

and adoption of pets in

Spain 2015: interpretationof the results.

Summary of the results:

- The abandonment of pets is, once again, the main problem affecting the well-being of pets in Spain.

- There is a slight reduction in the number of animals arriving in shelters and animal protection associationscompared to previous years.

- There is an increase in the number of lost animals that were reunited with their owners.

- Economical issues are no longer the main reason for abandoning a dog or cat in a pet shelter.

- Behavioural and adaptation issues are the primary reason for abandoning a pet.

- Abandoned puppies and kittens find new homes more easily than adult animals.

02 | Affinity Foundation study on the abandonment, loss and adoption of pets in Spain 2015

Affinity Foundation study on the abandonment, loss and adoption of pets in Spain 2015 | 03

Figure 1 Evolution of the number of animals (dogs and cats) that arrive in shelters or animal protection

associations every year.

Our interpretation:

• Dogs and cats being abandoned and lost is the main problem affecting the well-being of petsin Spain1.

• In recent years there has been a downward trend in the number of animals arriving at shelters and animal protection associations. However, it is a small decrease in figures that still remain veryhigh (Figure 1).

• The figures are even more worrying if we consider that not all families have a pet at home. Aswe said last year, abandonment is a structural problem that requires greater intervention andcooperation by all agents, public and private, involved in its prevention.

Abandonment is one of the most significant problems affecting the

well-being of pets.

* Source: internal estimation, Affinity Petcare.

2008 2009 2010 2012 2013 2014 2015

156,858

151,673

145,057 144,660

141,835140,191

137,831

Abandoned or lost

How many dogs and cats were taken in by animal shelters

in 2015?

• Key data:

- Last year, 137,831 dogs and cats were taken in.

- 104,501 dogs.

- 33,330 cats.

• Based on the above data, we can estimate the rate of abandonment and/or loss of animals as being 22 dogsand 7 cats per 10,000 inhabitants.

• Abandonment affects 1.7% of the 6,100,000 dogs and 1% of the 3,600,000 cats that are estimated to live in Spain.*


How many pets are actually abandoned?

• Key data:

- Overall number of animals returned to their owners: 20.4% of animals taken in by shelters and animal protection associations were returned to their owners. This number has increased in recent years and constitutes an increase of almost 9% in relation to the same data observed in 2008 (Figure 2). However, as noted below, there are significant differences between dogs and cats.

- 25.9% of dogs taken in by animal shelters and protection organisations were returned to their owners (Figure 3). This number has increased in recent years and constitutes an increase of almost 12% in relationto the same data observed in 2008 (Figure 4).

- Only 3.3% of cats taken in by shelters and animal protection associations were returned to their owners (Figures 5 and 6).

- Altogether, 19% of all animals that arrive at shelters are returned to their owners (Figure 7).

- 31.2% of dogs and 3.1% of cats that are taken into a shelter are correctly identified with a microchip (Figure 8).

2008 2009 2010 2012 2013 2014 2015

11.76

13.94 14.05 13.98

16.1917.52

20.43

% Animals recovered

Figure 2 Evolution of the percentage of animals that arrive at animal shelters that are recovered

by their owners.

Figure 3 Destination of dogs arriving in animal shelters or protection organisations.

0

10

20

50

30

40

45.8%

25.9%

13.4%

Adopted Returned Remain inthe shelter

7.7% 7.2%

Euthanised Otherdestination


2008 2009 2010 2012 2013 2014 2015

14

16.8 17.2 17

19.9

22

25.9% Dogs recovered

Figure 4 Evolution of the percentage of dogs that arrive at shelters that are recovered by their owners.

Figure 5 Destination of cats arriving in animal shelters or protection organisations.

10

20

50

30

40

15.5% 14.7%

Adopted Put down Remain inthe shelter

3.3%

25.3%

Returned Other destinations

41.2%

2008 2009 2010 2012 2013 2014 2015

4.94.7

4.5

2.8

4.2

3.2 3.3

% Cats recovered

Figure 6 Evolution of the percentage of cats that arrive at shelters that are recovered by their owners.

Figure 7 Destination of the animals that arrive at shelters or animal protection associations (aggregated

data on dogs and cats)

10

20

50

30

40

44%

10%

Returned Adopted Euthanised

14%

Remain inthe shelter

20%

Percentage of animals

0


Identification by microchip is one of the main strategies for tackling

abandonment and enabling lost animals to be recovered.

0

18.4

Figure 8 Percentages of identified dogs and cats that arrive in animal shelters. A gradual increase in the

percentage of identified animals is observed, after the fall in 2012 and 2013.

2008 2009 2010 2012 2013 2014 20152007

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

23.825.4

31.2

27.926.0

30.1 31.2

3.3 3.3 3.5 4.62.9

1.82.8 3.1

Our interpretation:

• A significant amount of the pets that arrive in shelters are not actually abandoned but are in factprobably lost.

• The key factor in recovering a stray animal is the ability to find its owners and in order to do this,it is vital that the animal is properly identified by microchip.

• The increase in dogs recovered by their owners could be explained, at least in part, by the increasednumber of identified animals. Almost 31.2% of the dogs that arrived in shelters in 2015 were identified,which is more than a 7% increase on the same figure recorded in 2008.

• The percentage of cats returned to their owners is notably less than that of dogs and, unlike whatis being observed in dogs, it does not appear to improve with time. This data may, on the one hand,reflect the lower number of cats identified as compared to dogs and, on the other hand, the arrivalin animal shelters of many cats that are born and grow up on the streets. In relation to identification,it is interesting to note that the percentage of cats that arrived at shelters with a microchip in 2015is almost identical to the figure from 2008.

• The recovery of the percentage of identified dogs and, to a lesser extent, cats arriving in sheltersand animal protection associations seems to be confirmed after the drop observed in 2012 and 2013.However, these figures are still well below the number of animals identified in Spain, which, accordingto Affinity Petcare’s estimations, amounts to 85% of dogs and 34% of cats. If we consider that beingable to identify a pet is one of the main indications of responsible ownership, unidentified dogsand cats are more likely to arrive in animal shelters.

Cat

Dog


Is it true that more animals are abandoned in summer?

• Key data:

- The total proportion of animals (dogs and cats) taken in by animal protection associations was 30.4%, 36.9% and 32.6% respectively for each one of the three 4-month periods of the year (Figure 9). As a newfeature of the 2015 study, the data collected on animals taken in is presented month by month (Figure 10). Again, there is a notable difference between dogs and cats.

- The proportion of dogs taken in by animal protection organisations was 31.9%, 34.7% and 33.4% respectivelyfor each of the three 4-month periods of the year (Figure 11). The data collected on animals taken in is presented month by month (Figure 12).

- The proportion of cats taken in by animal protection organisations in the three 4-month periods was 26.5%, 42.6% and 30.9% respectively (Figure 13). The figures collected on cats taken in are presented month by month (Figure 14).

7.657.05

7.77 7.93

8.92 9.129.71

8.84 8.597.85

Janu

ary

Febr

uary

March

April May

June July

Augu

stSe

ptem

ber

Octo

ber

Nove

mber

Dece

mber

7.35

9.23

Figure 9 Distribution by 4-month periods (2015) of the total number of animals taken in by animal

protection associations.

Animals taken in by 4-month periods of the year

0

10

20

30

1 2

50

40

3

30.436.9

32.6

Figure 10 Distribution by month of the total number of animals taken in by animal protection associations.

10

8

6

4

2

0


Figure 11 Distribution per 4-month period of the total number of dogs taken in by animal protection

organisations.

8.5%

7.7%8.0% 7.7%

8.3% 8.5%9.2%

8.3% 8.5% 8.3% 8.2%8.8%

Figure 13 Distribution per 4-month period of the total number of cats taken in by animal protection

organisations.

Janu

ary

Febr

uary

March

April May

June July

Augu

stSe

ptem

ber

Octo

ber

Nove

mber

Dece

mber

Figure 12 Distribution per month of the total number of dogs taken in by animal protection organisations.

0

10

20

30

1st f

our-m

onth

perio

d

of th

e yea

r

2nd f

our-m

onth

perio

d

of th

e yea

r

50

40

3rd f

our-m

onth

perio

d

of th

e yea

r

31.9%34.7%

33.4%

10

8

6

4

2

0

0

10

20

30

1st f

our-m

onth

perio

d

of th

e yea

r

50

40

26.5

42.6

30.9

2nd f

our-m

onth

perio

d

of th

e yea

r

3rd f

our-m

onth

perio

d

of th

e yea

r


5.5%5.4%

7.2%

8.5%

10.5% 10.7% 11.0%10.2%

8.8%

6.7%

5.2%

10.3%

Our interpretation:

• The abandonment or loss of animals is a phenomenon that occurs throughout the year. This figurecontrasts with the very widespread opinion that dogs are abandoned particularly before the summerholidays. In order to understand the slight increase in abandonment or loss in the middle of theyear, dogs and cats must be looked at separately.

• The number of dogs arriving at shelters and animal protection associations is very stable throughoutthe year. However, the number of cats arriving increases during the second four-month period ofthe year. This finding can be understood if we take into consideration that cats are seasonal breedersand that a significant reason for abandoning pets is precisely unwanted litters. Studies carried outon this subject indicate that most cat litters are unwanted2. This data shows how importantsterilisation is in preventing pet abandonment.

• As occurred in the 2014 study of abandonment, the distribution of animals taken in by four-monthperiods is almost identical to what was observed in the previous year’s study.

Sterilisation is a key strategy for preventing pet abandonment.

Janu

ary

Febr

uary

March

April May

June July

Augu

stSe

ptem

ber

Octo

ber

Nove

mber

Dece

mber

Figure 14 Distribution by month of the total number of cats taken in by animal protection entities.

12

8

6

4

2

0

10

What happens to dogs and cats that arrive in animal shelters?

• Key data:

Firstly, we will examine the numbers of both dogs and cats in order to gain an overall perspective of theproblem. Afterwards, we will explain the differences between dogs and cats, which in some aspects areremarkable.

• What happens to animals that arrive at animal shelters?

- As was already indicated, 19% of the total number of animals that arrive at shelters are returned to theirowners (Figure 7).

- 44% are adopted (Figure 7).

- 14% remain in the shelter and 10% are put down (Figure 7).

• What happens to dogs?

- As we have already shown, 25.9% of dogs are returned to their owners (Figure 3).

- 45.8% are adopted (Figure 3). Of these, 70.2% are adopted by Spanish families and 29.8% are taken abroad(Figure 15).

- 13.4% remain in the shelter waiting for adoption and 7.7% are put down (Figure 3).

• What happens to cats?

- As previously mentioned, 3.3% of cats are returned to their owners (Figure 5).

- 41.2% are adopted. 83.6% of all adoptions take place in Spain and 16.4% in other countries (Figure 15).

- 14.7% remain in the shelter and 15.5% are put down (Figure 5).



Our interpretation:

• Promoting adoption is one of the key strategies for reducing the population of abandonedanimals.

• Some of the dogs and cats that arrive in shelters are adopted by families in other countries. Thisdata suggests that Spain has a pet adoption deficit, not only because the number of abandonedanimals is not offset by the number adopted, but also because some of these adoptions takeplace outside the country.

• If they are not adopted, pets are condemned to spending the rest of their days in a shelter orin many cases to being put down. In this sense, it is important to point out that both thepercentage of animals being put down and the percentage of animals remaining in shelters haveboth experienced a downward trend during recent years (Figures 16 and 17).

0

20

40

60

80

Dogs Cats

Adopted in other countriesAdopted by Spanish families

Adoption is key to reducing the abandoned dog and cat population.

100

120

Figure 15 Destination of dog and cat adoptions from animal shelters and protection organisations

in Spain.

2008 2009 2010 2012 2013 2014 2015

14.7 15.5 15.7

10.7

6.38.3 7.7

% Dogs that are put down

Figure 16 Evolution of the proportion of dogs that are put down, that remain in shelters or that are adopted.

30.7 25.5

14.6 15.1 15.413.4

% Dogs that remain in shelters


29.4

39.2

44.8

50.9

46.945.4 45.8

% Dogs that are adopted

% Cats that are put down

Figure 17 Evolution of the proportion of cats that are put down, that remain in shelters or that are adopted.

% Cats that remain in shelters% Cats that are adopted

2008 2009 2010 2012 2013 2014 2015

22.4

18.6

1513.5 13.2

17

30.6

38.2

23.322.4

20

14.7

19.3

27.6

37.539.4

36.9

39.8 41.2

30.1

15.5

What kind of animal is abandoned?

• Key data:

- 20.2% of dogs and 10.9% of cats that are abandoned are purebred, while the rest are mixed breed (Figure 18).

- Almost half of all abandoned dogs are medium sized (Figure 19).

- The majority of dogs and cats that arrive at shelters are adults, although puppies, kittens and senior animals are also taken in (Figures 20 and 21).

0

20

60

80

100

Dogs Cats

MixedPure

40

20.2%

79.8%

10.9%

89.1%


Figure 18 Profile of the animals taken in by shelters by breed.

Figure 19 Size of the dogs that arrive at animal shelters.

47,2%Medium-sized breed

26,0%Large breed

26,8%Small breed


Our interpretation:

• Abandonment is a phenomenon that affects dogs and cats of all kinds, and is not thereforerestricted to a particular age group or to specific breeds.

• The proportion of medium- and large-sized dogs that arrive at shelters is greater than theproportion in the general dog population. Consequently, this may suggest that small dogs sufferfrom less loss and abandonment than larger dogs.

Animal shelters receive dogs and cats of any age and breed. The majority

of animals that arrive at shelters are unidentified and healthy.

0

20

60

80

100

Dogs Cats

SeniorAdultPuppy40

25.5%

59.9%

40.9%

51.4%

14.6% 8.3%

Mixed breed 81%

Pure breed 19%

BreedMicrochip

have a microchip 24% Healthy 70%

Sick or injured 30%

Health Age

Puppy 27%

Adult 59%

Senior 14%

Figure 20 Distribution by age of the animals that are taken in by shelters and animal protection associations.

Figure 21 Distribution by characteristics of the animals that are taken in by shelters and animal

protection associations.


Is it true that it is easier to rehome puppies and kittens?

• Key data:

- The amount of time that puppies and kittens remain in shelters is much less than that of older dogs and cats (Figure 22).

Our interpretation:

• The small amount of time that puppies and kittens spend in shelters can largely be explainedby the greater appeal that a young animal holds for many adopters.

• There is a misconception that an adult animal won’t integrate into its new family or that it won’tbe possible to educate it effectively. It is therefore important to develop informative campaignsfor adopters about the convenience and even the advantages that adopting an adult dog or catoften offers.

0

2

4

6

8

Dog Cat

AdultPuppy

10

6.9

3.2

7.5

3.2

7.2

3.2

Total

Figure 22 Average amount of time spent in the shelter according to the animal’s age (in months).

Why do some people abandon their pets?

• Key data:

- 66.4% of animals that are admitted into a shelter are found on the street. The remaining 33.6% are taken to theshelter by an individual who is unknown to the animal (70.4%) or by the owners directly (29.6%) (Figure 23).

- The five main reasons given by owners who bring a pet to a shelter are the animal’s behaviour (14.8%), unwantedlitters (14.5%), economic factors (11.9%), the end of the hunting season (10.1%) and changes in address (9%) (Figure 24).


33.6%Brought in

Figure 23 Origin of animals arriving in shelters.

66.4%Found

For an external reason

80%60%40%20%0%

By the person abandoning it

70.4%

29.6%


Our interpretation:

• In contrast to data from 2014, economic factors are no longer the main reason for bringinga pet to a shelter.

• Behavioural issues appear to be the most significant reason given for pet abandonment in Spain.In this sense, it is important to remember that today, the majority of behavioural and adaptationproblems found in pets can be prevented and, where they are already present, effectively resolved.Behavioural medicine is now a fully recognised veterinary speciality, which aims to prevent andtreat behavioural and adaptation problems in both dogs and cats from the moment of adoption.

• With regard to unwanted litters, it is important to remember the importance of sterilising petsas a strategy for reducing the population of abandoned animals.

• It is very important to insist that people who personally bring in their animals to animal sheltersprovide information on why the animal is being abandoned. The majority of animals that areadmitted to shelters have been found in the street or are taken there by people who are not theirowners. Therefore, we still don’t know the real reasons why so many pets are abandoned in Spain.

Figure 24 Reasons for abandoning pets.

Animal behaviour

Unwanted litters

Financial factors

End of hunting season

Change of address

Loss of interest in the animal

Lack of time or space

Allergies

Admission to hospital or death

Job loss

Birth of a child

Holidays

Pregnancy (toxoplasmosis)

Others

151050

14.8

14.5

11.9

10.1

9.0

8.2

6.6

5.8

5.7

3.8

2.6

1.6

1.0

4.3

Why do people decide to adopt a dog or a cat from an

animal shelter?

• Key data:

- The three most significant reasons why people decide to adopt are the concern that many of them have about the problem of abandonment (38.5%), their desire to work with the animal protection organisation (20.2%) andrecommendations from friends or acquaintances (14.8%) (Figure 25).


Our interpretation:

• These results are consistent with the very slight percentage variations of the results obtainedin the 2014 study.

• Adoption is an alternative to buying a pet that benefits everyone: the family, the animalprotection organisations and, of course, the dog or cat itself.

• Through adoption many people don’t just incorporate a new member into their family but theyparticipate in and support an important social cause: the defence of animal welfare.

Concern about the problem of abandonment

Cooperating with the shelter

Recommendations from friends or acquaintances

It is cheaper than buying

The animal is in better conditions

The option to return the animal

Others

50403020100

Figure 25 Reasons given by people for adopting a pet.

38.5%

20.2%

14.8%

12.7%

10.6%

2.7%

0.5%


Why do some people interested in adopting an animal end

up not doing so?

• Key data:

- Around 29.3% of people who are initially interested in adopting a dog or a cat eventually decided not to do so.

- Among them, the three key reasons for not adopting were respectively not having found the appropriate size (32.7%), age (25.9%) or breed (20.7%) (Figure 26).

- Around 13.5% of potential adopters decide not to do so, arguing that the cost of the adoption is more expensivethan expected (Figure 26).

Our interpretation:

• For many people, physical appearance and breed in particular continue to be important criteria whenadopting a dog or cat. However, the breed does not guarantee a particular behaviour profile. Animalsmust only be adopted after serious consideration, particularly of the impact the animal will have onquality of life in the family. In this sense, a study carried out by the Affinity Foundation in Spainin 2015 indicated that when choosing a pet, the needs of the animal and the owner’s lifestyle areonly taken into consideration in 21% of cases.

• Approximately one in every seven prospective adopters believes that adopting is expensive. However,the average cost of an adoption in Spain is very small, particularly if you consider the cost borneby the shelter to care for its animals responsibly (e.g. feeding the animal while at the shelter,veterinary care, identification, etc.).

• Overall, these findings show that greater educational work is required on the benefits of adoption.It is also important to increase awareness about the enormous economic effort involved for ashelter in looking after an ownerless animal. It is important to remember here the great workcarried out every day by shelters and animal protection associations for pets by the selflessefforts of their members and volunteers.

• All those directly and indirectly involved in animal protection should participate in this educationaltask, from animal shelters and vets to administration.

Not finding an appropriate size

Not finding a specific age

Not finding a specific breed

It’s more expensive than expected

Others

50403020100

Figure 26 Reasons for not adopting a pet among people initially interested in adopting.

32.7%

25.9%

20.7%

13.5%

7.2%

Why do some people who have adopted a pet then return

it to the shelter?

• Key data:

- 6.2% of adoptions carried out in 2015 were unsuccessful.

- Behavioural problems were the main reason for returning a pet to the shelter after adopting it (Figure 27).

- A significant amount of animals were returned within a month of the adoption and almost all of them within the first three months after the animal was first taken home (Figure 28).


Our interpretation:

• It is recommended that people who adopt a dog or cat are given information to help facilitate the animal’ssuccessful adaptation to its new surroundings. In this sense, as was already mentioned, it is importantto remember that many behavioural problems can be effectively prevented.

Figure 28 Distribution of the return of animals to shelters according to the time that has elapsed since

the adoption.

In less than one monthof the adoption

Between the 1stand 3rd month of adoption

After the 3rd monthof adoption

Figure 27 Reasons behind failed adoptions.

Animal behaviour

Bigger responsibility than expected

Allergy

Financial factors

Lack of time or space

Change of address

Admission to hospital/death

Loss of children’s enthusiasm

Risk of contracting toxoplasmosis during pregnancy

Others

41.7%

13.3%

9.8%

8.7%

8.4%

8.2%

3.8%

2.4%

1.0%

2.6%

50403020100

0%

20%

40%

60%

100%

80%

45.1%

21.8% 33.1%


Main conclusions

• Abandonment remains a major animal welfare issue in Spain. The number of animalsthat arrived at animal shelters in 2015 is slightly lower than numbers observed inprevious years.

• Sterilisation, identification and adoption are the three key strategies for preventingand minimising the impact of pet abandonment. Sterilisation and identification arepart of a wider concept of responsible pet ownership, which includes the duties ofresponsibility that all owners assume in respect of their pet. Thus, citizen participationis fundamental for combating the problem of abandoned pets, since this depends onthe effective application of the three previously mentioned strategies (sterilisation,identification and adoption), which have proved to be fundamental in tackling theproblem of abandonment.

• In addition to raising awareness of the need to adopt, we must educate the publicabout the benefits as well as the duties involved in adopting a pet, and the impacttheir arrival can have on our lifestyle.

Bibliography:

1. Fatjó J, Bowen J, García E, Calvo P, Rueda S, Amblás S, Lalanza JF (2015) Epidemiology of Dog and CatAbandonment in Spain (2008–2013). Animals, 5(2), 426-441; doi:10.3390/ani5020364

2. Garcia E, Calvo P, Moradell M, Pérez M, Fatjó J (2010) Dog abandonment: an analysis of data for 1 year from30 cities in the area of Barcelona. European College of Veterinary Behavioural Medicine Annual Congress,Hamburg.

3. Root Kustritz MV (2007) Determining the optimal age for gonadectomy of dogs and cats. Journal of theAmerican Veterinary Medical Association, 231 (11), pp 1665-1675.

www.fundacion-affinity.org/en

www.fundacion-affinity.org/en/abandonment-and-adoption-studies

Documents

Affinity Foundation study on the abandonment, loss and adoption … · 2018. 6. 12. · 16.8 17.2 17 19.9 22 % Dogs recovered 25.9 Figure 4 Evolution of the percentage of dogs that