Abandoned animals skyrockets in Spain during State of Alarm

The number of abandoned cats and dogs has skyrocketed during State of Alarm with animal shelters across Spain struggling to stay afloat.

WHILE there are no official figures, Iberánimal – the Spanish Association of Animal Protectors and Sanctuaries – claims shelters are close to “collapsing due to the large number of abandoned pets and the lack of resources.”

Most of these shelters do not receive financial aid, and with their fundraising campaigns on hold due to the health crisis, they have no money coming in.

Their social media pages are full of photographs of abandoned cats and dogs in need of a home as well as appeals for support and donations.

https://www.facebook.com/iberanimal/videos/253776315895513/

LUCI fue encontrada en un contenedor de basura cuando tan solo eran recién nacidas. Ahora tiene casi 3 meses y necesita encontrar un hogar para siempre.
Es muy cariñosa y juguetona, apta para otros animales (perros, gatos, conejos)
💜 Adopta a LUCI
📧 defensanimalzamora@gmail.com pic.twitter.com/ohzoaul04o

— Adopta Daz (@DefensaAnimalZA) June 10, 2020

Iberánimal confirmed abandonments have significantly increased since March, while adoptions and “rentals” were up too at the beginning of confinement – a fact the Environmental Prosecutor’s Office warned about at the end of March, claiming these pets were “the perfect excuse” for their new owners to go out on the streets in lockdown.

🆘 La situación es muy difícil, las ayudas disminuyen, no podemos recaudar fondos a traves de eventos, días de adopción, mercadillos solidarios… nuestros ingresos han caído en picado y los animales siguen llegando, si cabe cada vez en peor estado. pic.twitter.com/YLf3HJQ7yD

— axlamadrid.org (@AXLAMADRID) June 2, 2020

One of the main reasons for the surge in pet abandonments during State of Alarm is believed to be that many people wrongly believed animals, like people, could catch coronavirus and pass it on to their owners.

But research published in the journal Nature shows only two cases of animals transmitting the virus to people have been discovered, and claims the chance of catching the disease from an infected animal is minimal.

Another trigger for the abandonments has been the economic crisis due to the pandemic, with people out of work and businesses forced to close.

And thirdly, the end of confinement means some of those who adopted a dog in March so that they could go out on the streets no longer need the animal.

Abandoning an animal in Spain is classed as animal abuse and is a criminal offence.

According to the Criminal Code “anyone who abandons an animal in conditions in which its life or integrity may be endangered shall be punished by a fine of one to six months.”