At the SPA, the year 2022 begins with shelters close to saturation due to a lack of adoptions: 7,202 animals are waiting for a new master in the 62 sites of the animal defense association, she announced. at AFP.
“The year 2021, impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic, saw the SPA again collect more than 45,000 animals, like 2019, and made possible 40,142 responsible adoptions”, specifies the SPA on Saturday in a press release. , deploring “not being able to collect new residents despite numerous requests for abandonment”.
“The first reflex for the acquisition of a pet should be adoption in a shelter to fight against abandonment and empower owners”, explains Jacques-Charles Fombonne, president of the SPA, who calls “for a real awareness of the French”.
In addition to the abandonment of dogs and cats, new pets (NAC: reptiles and rodents) increased by 56% last year.
“These favorite animals, available for purchase on the internet and in stores, are the very embodiment of the fight against the animal-object”, comments the SPA which “militant” so that the recent law prohibiting the sale in dog and cat pet shop from 2024 be extended to these animals.
A positive note, however, in the rear view mirror for 2021: the number of equine adoptions has practically doubled since 2019 to reach the number of 154.
At the Grand Refuge de Pervenchères, in the Orne, 61 horses, donkeys and ponies are now available for adoption.
The Animal Protection department of the SPA has also been marked by an upsurge in reports of abuse.
The number of investigations increased by 17% compared to 2020 and the association’s legal department indicates that it has instituted civil proceedings with the filing of complaints on 343 occasions and 349 hearings have been held.
The SPA also saved 131% more suffering animals compared to 2020.