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Epidemiology of Dog and Cat Abandonment in Spain (2008–2013)

Fatjó, Jaume, Bowen, Jonathan, García, Elena, Calvo, Paula, Rueda, Silvia, Amblás, Silvia, Lalanza, Jaume·2015·Animals
DOI 10.3390/ani5020364PMC PMC4494419
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Abstract

Millions of pets are abandoned worldwide every year, which is an important animal welfare and financial problem. This paper was divided into three studies. Our first two studies were designed as a national survey of animal shelters to profile the population of stray dogs and cats, as well as to gather information on both relinquishment and adoption. The aim of our third study was to test the impact of identification on the recovery of dogs entering animal shelters. Studies one and two indicate that more than 100,000 dogs and more than 30,000 cats enter animal shelters annually in Spain. We observed a seasonal effect in the number of admissions in cats. Two-thirds of dogs and cats entering shelters were found as strays, while the rest were relinquished directly to the shelter. Most pets admitted to animal shelters were adult, non-purebred, and without a microchip, with the majority of dogs being medium sized. Adult dogs spent significantly more time in shelters than puppies. While most animals were either adopted or recovered by their owner, a considerable percentage remained at the shelter or was euthanized. The identification of dogs with a microchip increased by 3-fold the likelihood of them being returned to the owner.

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Figures

Figure 1 Total number of dogs (black circles - solid line) and cats (black squares- solid line) (left axis) in Spain and the estimated number of dogs (white circle - broken line) and cats (white squares – broken line) entering animal shelters in Spain from 2008 to 2013. The percentage of animals from the total population of dogs and cats entering animal shelters is also indicated entering animal shelters.
Figure 1 Total number of dogs (black circles - solid line) and cats (black squares- solid line) (left axis) in Spain and the estimated number of dogs (white circle - broken line) and cats (white squares – broken line) entering animal shelters in Spain from 2008 to 2013. The percentage of animals from the total population of dogs and cats entering animal shelters is also indicated entering animal shelters.CC BY · PubMed Central
Figure 2 Seasonal percentage of admissions to shelters in 2013 for dogs (grey bars) and cats (black bars). First season: January (Jan) to April (Apr), second season: May to August (Aug), third season: September (Sep) to December (Dec). * p < 0.02 Paired Comparisons (U Mann-Whitney): second vs. first, third.
Figure 2 Seasonal percentage of admissions to shelters in 2013 for dogs (grey bars) and cats (black bars). First season: January (Jan) to April (Apr), second season: May to August (Aug), third season: September (Sep) to December (Dec). * p < 0.02 Paired Comparisons (U Mann-Whitney): second vs. first, third.CC BY · PubMed Central
Figure 3 Time (in months) spent in the shelter in before being adopted, recovered or euthanized from 2009 to 2013. Black circles and continuous lines correspond to adult/senior dogs, white circles and broken lines to puppies, black triangles and continuous line to adult/senior cats, and white triangles and broken lines to kittens. + p < 0.03 Paired Comparison (mean of 4 years, U Mann-Whitney): adult/senior vs. puppy dogs. n = 105–137 (shelters).
Figure 3 Time (in months) spent in the shelter in before being adopted, recovered or euthanized from 2009 to 2013. Black circles and continuous lines correspond to adult/senior dogs, white circles and broken lines to puppies, black triangles and continuous line to adult/senior cats, and white triangles and broken lines to kittens. + p < 0.03 Paired Comparison (mean of 4 years, U Mann-Whitney): adult/senior vs. puppy dogs. n = 105–137 (shelters).CC BY · PubMed Central
Figure 4 Reasons to abandon a dog or a cat in 2010 (grey columns) and in 2013 (black columns). n = 110–122 (shelters).
Figure 4 Reasons to abandon a dog or a cat in 2010 (grey columns) and in 2013 (black columns). n = 110–122 (shelters).CC BY · PubMed Central
Figure 5 Reasons to adopt a dog or a cat in 2010 (light grey columns), in 2012 (dark grey columns) and in 2013 (black columns). n = 126–133 (shelters).
Figure 5 Reasons to adopt a dog or a cat in 2010 (light grey columns), in 2012 (dark grey columns) and in 2013 (black columns). n = 126–133 (shelters).CC BY · PubMed Central
Figure 6 Ecology model of the domestic dog in Spain in 2013. m = millions (modified from [25]).
Figure 6 Ecology model of the domestic dog in Spain in 2013. m = millions (modified from [25]).CC BY · PubMed Central
Figure 7 Ecology model of the domestic cat in Spain in 2013. m = millions (modified from [25]).
Figure 7 Ecology model of the domestic cat in Spain in 2013. m = millions (modified from [25]).CC BY · PubMed Central

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Cites

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Research works printed but not linked: 20

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Metadata

Authors
Fatjó, J., Bowen, J., García, E., Calvo, P., Rueda, S., Amblás, S., & Lalanza, J.
Affiliations
  • Chair Affinity Foundation Animals and Health, Department of Psychiatry and Forensic Medicine, School of Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
  • DEP Institute, C/Aragó 631-633, Local 1-2, 08026 Barcelona, Spain
Venue
Animals
Publisher
MDPI AG
Published
2015-06-12
Volume
5
Issue
2
Pages
426-441
ISSN
2076-2615
DOI
10.3390/ani5020364
PMC
PMC4494419
Cited by
55
References
0
Language
en
Licence
creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ (vor)

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CoChat. (2026). Citation check: Epidemiology of Dog and Cat Abandonment in Spain (2008–2013). https://app.cochat.ai/papers/10.3390/ani5020364
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Fatjó, J., Bowen, J., García, E., Calvo, P., Rueda, S., Amblás, S., & Lalanza, J. (2015). Epidemiology of Dog and Cat Abandonment in Spain (2008–2013). Animals. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani5020364