Primer estudio sobre el abandono y la adopción en Francia - 2025

In France, animal abandonment remains a massive phenomenon. The uncontrolled reproduction of cats and the careless acquisitions of dogs seem to be among its main causes. In addition, there are family, social and economic breakdowns that can leave many pet owners destitute.

The reception facilities, mainly associations, are at the limit of their capacity. The pace of adoptions is not always sufficient to absorb all the arrivals. Tens of thousands of refusals of care occur each year. The lack of financial and human resources weighs heavily on associations; the sector as a whole is fragile.

The animals taken in are often in poor health, sometimes resulting from situations of abuse. The exhaustion caused by wandering or the shock of abandonment can be followed by months or even years of waiting. If cats are the most numerous, dogs stay the longest in collective facilities that will never be as conducive to their well-being as a loving home, despite the dedication of the employees and volunteers who take care of them.

All this calls for public awareness: the acquisition of an animal is a long-term commitment, the implications and consequences of which must be known and anticipated. In addition, a political response is needed, based on increased support for associations, the battle against the commodification of animals (such as online sales and trafficking), as well as the intensification of efforts in identifying/registering animals and in population management, including through sterilization. It is urgent that the flow of animals be stemmed.