51% of the total 285,000 dogs and cats collected In the Spanish guardians in 2021 adopted, According to the ‘Never would have done’ study prepared by the Affinity Foundation.
The Foundation evaluates this data positively, because a First-time adoptions increase in Spain Since 2018, 3% more dogs and 10% more cats have been adopted than the previous year.
“Adoption is the only strategy we have to keep animals from staying in shelters. abandonment has already taken place and these data allow us to speak of a positive trend that we hope will increase in the coming years”, says Isabel Buil, director of the foundation.
According to Affinity Foundation research, 90% of the adoptions of these dogs and cats from shelters are “successful”, compared to 10% of cases where the animal is returned to the shelter.
34% of these failed adoptions are due to “dog or cat behavior issues.”and 40% of these returns occur within the first month of intake, which is a “short” time to achieve a “satisfactory adaptation” according to the study.
“We should get some Allow realistic expectations about the adaptation period and time for the animal and family to acclimate to the new situation.‘, the director explained.
Buil also recalled the “delicate situation” in which guardians find themselves in the summer.
Although the same number of animals continue to come to the shelters in the summer, “lAdoption slows or stops“, a fact that, according to the director, has “turned into beings full of animals,” where the situation has become “unsustainable.”
“With a return to routine now might be a good time to adopt a pet, as it is a time when the whole family gets back to their daily habits and this can help their adaptation process,” Buil said. .