"People went on vacation less" during the first months of 2021 due to the Covid-19 epidemic and travel restrictions, says the animal protection association to explain the drop in the number of abandoned dogs in the first months of 2021.
The SPA shelters received fewer abandoned animals in the first quarter of 2021, with a drop of more than 20% in the number of dogs recovered in the 62 SPA establishments, the association told AFP on Saturday.
"People went on vacation less" during the first months of 2021 due to the Covid-19 epidemic and travel restrictions, he added to explain the drop in dog abandonment (-22% by first quarter 2020 report).
Adoption figures remain stable
"For dogs, it is a question of real abandonment. For cats, it is often kittens that people find in their garage", commented Jacques-Charles Fombonne, the president of the Society for the protection of animals.
The number of cats collected in shelters was almost stable (+ 2%).
Side adoptions, the figures remained stable during the first three months of 2021 compared to the same period of 2020. "We do as during the first confinement (started mid-March 2020:
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) where we had placed 998 animals. the same precautions in terms of responsible adoption. And we are all the more careful to give animals to people who show that they really want them, "says Jacques-Charles Fombonne.
“SOS” adoptions have increased by nearly 20%.
These adoptions concern "animals that are difficult to place: old dogs, old cats, inconvenient or sick animals," said the president of the SPA.
And for life after confinement, Jacques-Charles Fombonne says he is "confident".
Even if he fears "this summer an upsurge in dropouts compared to last year, when people will want to go on vacation".