Animal welfare group reports surge in abandoned pets

The number of dogs and cats being abandoned has risen sharply this summer, according to ORF. The Pfotenhilfe OÖ animal welfare organisation says higher food and veterinary costs are among the reasons, with kittens particularly likely to lose their homes.

Since May, Pfotenhilfe OÖ has taken in more than 100 kittens, as well as almost 100 adult cats since the start of the year.

The situation is similarly serious for dogs. The organisation has taken in only 40 new animals since January because requests to adopt dogs have fallen sharply for the first time, said Pfotenhilfe representative Jürgen Stadler.

Pfotenhilfe currently receives three to five daily inquiries from people seeking to give up their dogs. However, the organisation says it has reached its capacity. If no dog is placed on one day, it cannot take in another the following day, Stadler said.

Rising prices have made food and veterinary treatment unaffordable for some pet owners. Pfotenhilfe also said people were increasingly turning to dubious breeders and low-cost sellers, where animals were more likely to have illnesses requiring expensive medical care.

Stadler urged people to think more carefully before acquiring a pet. The decision was often highly emotional, he said, with people celebrating the new animal without considering the consequences before facing problems later.