2022 closed a difficult chapter for animal protection, ending a streak of progress that had many hopeful about a future with fewer abandoned pets. After years of steady improvement in 2020 and 2021, the year 2022 delivered a sobering reality check: abandonment remained a stubborn problem, though it did not surpass the pre-pandemic peak.
As mobility increased, daily routines normalized, and travel once again became common, cases where dogs and cats were left behind reflected owners’ irresponsibility. This surge in neglect became the most visible form of cruelty in the country during the year, yet the overall numbers did not dive back to the levels seen before the health crisis.
Adoption, on the other hand, showed remarkable momentum throughout 2022. More households chose to welcome a dog or a cat as a permanent member of the family, and adoption grew to be the preferred path for acquiring a pet. This shift prompted a number of businesses that once focused on sales to partner with guardians and list animals for adoption instead. Social networks amplified this trend, helping to spotlight individual animal cases that needed urgent help and quicker placements.
When it came to illegal trade and the trafficking of other species, the situation remained largely unchanged. Governments around the world continued to show gaps in enforcement, allowing unscrupulous actors to pursue illicit profits with little consequence.
Looking ahead to 2023, predictions are uncertain. The hope is that abandonment will decline, that adoptions will keep rising, and that physical abuse will become increasingly rare. There is also a collective wish for stronger action against illegal trade, paired with sensible, science-based policymaking. It is clear that new laws will arrive, but their effectiveness will depend on consensus and on not allowing the whims of a few to override expert knowledge and evidence. The shared aspiration is for practical, lasting protections that translate into real improvements for animals and the people who care for them.