Spain top for deserted pets

ALL around Spain animal lovers have set up associations to look after unwanted and stray pets.

They do it because of their love of animals, but one thing is for sure, they need help.

Many expatriates have pitched in to help, but the supply of dogs and cats that need care and new homes seems endless.

And there is a good reason for that. It would appear that Spain is the country with the most abandoned pets in Europe, according to a study by the Affinity foundation.

Latest figures available show that 140,000 animals, the vast majority dogs, were abandoned in Spain in 2013. That was a drop of 2.3 per cent from 2012, but still an enormous figure.

The high numbers have been partly blamed on the financial crisis with families being unable to afford the upkeep of the dog. But it simply moves the problem elsewhere.

Many municipal pounds will only hold animals for a limited time before destroying them, which is where charitable homes come into the equation. They always need help, whether financial, volunteer workers or people to take in unwanted animals.

Affinity would like people to think before they abandon pets, pointing out that in many parts of Spain it is a crime with fines of between €400 and €20,000 possible.

It is much better to put some effort into finding a new home for your pet rather than simply abandoning it.