On the adoption side, 41,186 animals found new owners, including 26,024 cats, 12,646 dogs, and 2,389 NACs (rabbits, guinea pigs, gerbils, etc.).

SPA took in 44,199 abandoned pets in 2022, nearly matching the 2019 record, including 27,940 cats, it said Monday.

In addition to small cats, the Society for the Protection of Animals last year hosted 13,373 dogs, 160 horses and 2,726 new pets, or NACs (rabbits, guinea pigs, gerbils, etc.), as well as farm animals, in 63 shelters and SPA homes.

On the adoption side, 41,186 animals found new owners, including 26,024 cats, 12,646 dogs and 2,389 NACs.

This is “a near record 2019 adoption rate and (d) a 2.6% increase over 2021”, calculated SPA in a press release.

Difficulty of dogs with special needs

SPA is also concerned about having to deal with a difficulty that has emerged in recent years, namely dogs with special needs. They represent about 20% of the inhabitants and it is difficult to entrust them to a master without experience.

“The acquisition of certain fashionable dogs with special needs (such as the Australian Shepherd, Belgian Shepherd, Malinois, American Staffordshire terrier…) requires special knowledge and attention that not all masters can provide.”

Animal advocates also lament the rise in NAC abandonment, up 34% since 2019.

“These ‘favorite’ animals are the embodiment of the fight against animal-objects”, according to the SPA which “fights for a law on animal mistreatment, which bans the sale of dogs (and) cats in pet stores from 2024, extending to animals- this beast”.

2023, a record year?

“This activity report points to a significant year 2023 in terms of the challenges that must be faced. Fear of the consequences of inflation on the resources of SPA – which only live on the generosity of the public – and on the activities of the shelters present”, worries Jacques-Charles Fombonne, its president.

2022 was also an intense year on the animal abuse front. SPA processes 23,800 reports in 2022, an increase of 52%.

To fulfill this mission, the SPA has specifically recruited more than 250 delegated investigators to strengthen its territorial network. Thus, the legal department of SPA’s Animal Protection and Investigation was able to save 4,400 animals that were abused.