We all know that the rate of animal abandonment in our country is painfully high. Every year, more than 104,000 ARISTODOGS and more than 33,000 ARISTOCATS are abandoned. A shameful figure that says a lot, and very negatively, about our society.
Figures reveal that the second trimester of the year is the most critical period, as 35% of abandonments occur then. The situation is particularly delicate during Easter, which is right now.
In fact, today we woke up to terrifying news informing us that during this holiday period, the animal abandonment rate increases by up to 40%, of which 70% are puppies just days old, according to a study conducted by more than 20 animal welfare associations in Spain.
Many of the abandoned pets at this time were precious Christmas gifts. Precious and ill-considered. Because sometimes families act without sufficient awareness and preparation. They give an ARISTOPET as they would give a piece of jewelry or a toy. And they don't stop to think that, from then on, this being is part of the family and must be taken care of from the first to the last day of its life.
It is then that an animal goes from being a joy, an incomparable surprise, to an annoyance, a burden, a headache. Something that is evident in daily life, accentuates on weekends, and becomes unsustainable when families want to go on vacation. Like now. In those moments when the pet prevents (or is believed to prevent) carrying out one's plans, the possibility of abandoning it is seriously considered.
Today there are countless quality, trustworthy, and affordable options for caring for, looking after, and protecting any pet. Not to mention one's own circle of trust, i.e., loved ones who would surely be willing to take care of our best friends if we asked them... With foresight, a solution can always be found if a pet cannot be taken on vacation. Therefore, it is surprising and disheartening that this phenomenon continues to occur.
For all this, it is good to be prepared. It would not be surprising if any of us encountered a poor abandoned animal during these days. And in such cases, what do we do?
The protocol for caring for an abandoned animal recommends approaching them carefully, with gentle movements, speaking slowly and in a kind tone. It should be taken into account that the animal may be seriously frightened, so we don't know how it might react. Once we have won over the ARISTODOG or ARISTOCAT, we should observe the following:
-Does it have a tag? If it does and the information is up to date, you can try to contact the owner. If you cannot locate the owner, you can act as if the dog had no tag. That is, by checking if it has a microchip.
-Does it have a microchip? You can check for free at the nearest veterinary clinic and thus locate the owners.
-It has no identification of any kind. This reduces the chances of finding the animal's owners. In this situation, in addition to contacting the collection service contracted by the City Council, you can contact local shelters (in the SHELTERS section of our blog, you will find some with which we work); you can temporarily take care of it while trying to find its owner or find it a new home; or finally, you can offer it your home and make arrangements to adopt it.
These days more than ever, we hope that the hearts of those considering abandoning their pet will soften. It is not fair to them. It is not human. They contribute to spreading a scourge that discredits us as a thinking and feeling species. We ask you to help us spread this post, in case it can dissuade those who intend to abandon their pets.
