Image credits: Personal archive

Green December is a warning to combat animal abandonment and abuse at the end of the year

The month in which International Animal Rights Day is celebrated (10/12), December has been colored green since 2015 to raise awareness about responsible pet ownership and combat abandonment and abuse. Unfortunately, the last month of the year, together with January and February, is the period in which the most cases of abandonment are recorded. O Curto News spoke to Patas Dadas, a non-governmental organization (NGO) that works to protect our four-legged friends, to find out what can be done to combat this problem. Check out!

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that there are more than 30 million abandoned animals in Brazil. In order to contribute to reducing this problem, the Cobasi Care realized a research with 57 NGOs and independent protectors to understand the profile of abandoned animals in the country.

ADVERTISING

The study showed that around 90% of abandoned pets are dogs and 68,4% of them are adults and, for the most part, mixed race (SRD).

cobasi abandoned animals

Black and caramel mutts are the ones that suffer most from abandonment in Brazil. Among breed dogs, the ones that suffer most from abandonment are Pitbull, Chow Chow and Poodle.

cobasi abandoned animals

Although they represent less than 11% of abandonments, among felines, cats also stand out. cats mongrels who are the majority. Siamese and Persians were also frequently mentioned during the research.

ADVERTISING

animals abandon cobasi

The data collected by the research of the Cobasi Care They also pointed out the most common reasons cited for abandonment. According to these, 89,5% of abandonments are motivated by changing residence. Other frequent causes were the pet growing too much, the other animal in the house not adapting or changes in the owner's routine. And, also, the destruction of household items and necessities in the wrong place.

Increase in abandonment at the end of the year

O Curto News talked to Paws Given – an NGO from Porto Alegre/RS, created in 2009 after the poisoning of some animals in the place where the founders of the association were already working on a project to care for abandoned animals – to discover the reason for so many cases of abandonment at the end of the year.

According to the NGO, the increase in the number of abandonment cases at this time of year is quite common, as it is the time when families take vacations, travel and leave their pets on the streets with the justification of having nowhere to leave them.

ADVERTISING

The protectors of Paws Given emphasize that the impact of abandoning/passing on an animal leaves deep marks on it. But, if there is no alternative, the person must look for someone to stay with this being who was part of their family. 

It is important to remember that the abandonment is a crime, and the offender may suffer penalties provided for by law (Federal Law No. 9.605 of 1998). But worst of all is the suffering caused to the animal. With abandonment, the dog or cat will be exposed to several risks: from being run over, to mistreatment, hunger, thirst and lack of attention.

Contrary to what many owners think when they abandon an animal, it is very unlikely that at this time – with the high rate of abandonment – ​​someone will become aware and take home the dog or cat they found on the street.

ADVERTISING

The end of the year period can be bleak for many animals and a lot of work for NGOs that work in animal protection. For this reason, however you can, contribute to this cause. Help an NGO or independent protector near you and report mistreatment! 🐕 🐈

Read also

Scroll up