Animal abandonment Surges 14% in France This Summer, Straining Shelters
Paris, France – The protective Society of Animals (SPA) reported a 14% increase in animal collections this summer compared to last year, marking a peak in activity as France grappled wiht economic hardship and extreme weather. A total of 7,628 animals were collected by the SPA’s 62 shelters and spa houses in July and August, with the majority being cats. An additional 2,256 animals – primarily kittens – were cared for by relay families.
the surge in abandoned animals comes amid a confluence of challenging factors, according to the SPA. “This year, we had to face aggravating factors in series,” stated the organization in a press release. These included a “tense economic and social context” with inflation impacting households and slowing adoption rates, alongside the added strain of extreme climatic conditions like heat waves and wildfires.
Requisitions related to animal mistreatment also rose, as did the number of very young and sick kittens requiring extended care.shelters faced further disruption from typhus outbreaks, temporarily halting intake of new cats.
“Each summer, we anticipate a critical period, but this year again, we had to face major tensions: more requisitions, emergency arrivals and considerable logistical needs, especially for kittens,” saeid Jacques-Charles Fombonne, volunteer president of the SPA.
Despite the increased intake, the SPA managed to maintain adoption levels nearly equivalent to the previous summer, finding new homes for 6,989 animals in July and August. However, the organization emphasizes the meaningful strain placed on its resources and teams during a summer marked by “accumulated difficulties.”