- Numerous creatures subjected to holiday excursions - End to animal exploitation
Over the past summer in Hamburg, since mid-July, an estimated 138 animals have reportedly been left behind. According to Sven Fraaß, spokesperson for the Süderstraße animal shelter, speaking to the German Press Agency, we're seeing a similar concerning number of animals as last year, although it's not a record. During the pandemic, fewer animals were abandoned as people couldn't travel as much, worked from home, and pets provided a sort of companionship when social interaction was limited.
This year, there's been a particularly high number of abandoned cats: "They're the unfortunate leaders, with 84 individuals out of the 138 mentioned," said Fraaß. Thankfully, due to the dedicated work of the cat caretakers, we haven't hit a point where we can't accept more cats. "We're urging politics to finally pass a cat protection law in Hamburg. This should at least include requiring neutered cats with outdoor access and mandatory chipping and registration," said Fraaß.
Intake stop for dogs
For dogs, the chipping requirement has showed promise, but we've still had to halt intakes. The issue isn't the number of abandoned dogs, but rather the high number of 'challenging' dogs that haven't been trained. "These dogs are harder to rehome, especially during the holidays," said Fraaß. Many of these animals don't receive any adoption requests, while well-trained or young dogs are in high demand.
Among the abandoned animals are numerous kitten cats, even entire families have been thrown out in boxes. Not all animals could be saved, help often comes too late - such as a Chihuahua puppy that was likely already doomed due to breeding. "Small animals are not common among abandonment victims. Primarily, it's rabbits. More exotic rodents like degus are more rarely abandoned, but due to their demands and often lack of tameness, they're harder to rehome," said Fraaß.
Animal protection association: Online trade needs regulation
Fraaß can only speculate as to why animals are abandoned. "As easily as animals can be bought online, sometimes they're also quickly discarded. Some people apparently find it embarrassing to ask for help, and it's too much trouble to find a new and nice home for themselves," said the animal protection association. They believe the online trade of animals needs to be more heavily regulated to prevent animals from being sold between books and clothes. "Because impulsive purchases often lead to abandonments," believes Fraaß.
The European Union could play a significant role in regulating the online trade of animals to prevent impulsive purchases and subsequent abandonment, as suggested by Sven Fraaß from the animal protection association. Furthermore, the European Union could consider implementing cat protection laws, as urged by Fraaß, which could include mandatory neutering, chipping, and registration of cats with outdoor access in cities like Hamburg.
