9 reasons why people give up their pets

A common reason why pet owners part with their pet is that they don’t have enough time to care for the creature. Taking care of a pet takes time: feeding, walking, letting them in the garden, exercising and socializing them, and taking them to the vet; the litter box needs regular cleaning.

It is unfair to leave a pet alone for long periods of time, especially social animals like dogs that need human company. This has an impact on the owner’s lifestyle and must be carefully considered before acquiring a pet.

Many pets are bought spontaneously, especially on the internet. New owners probably don’t have time to consider all of the obligations that come with owning a dog, cat, or small animal, or to do the necessary research into the animal’s needs. This can lead to the animal being sold on later, given to an animal shelter or, in the worst case, abandoned.

Some pet owners lack the knowledge of how to take care of their pet and can therefore quickly feel overwhelmed by the responsibility. For this reason, it’s important to do thorough research into a pet’s needs before acquiring one, and make sure you understand and can meet them.

Pet owners lose their jobs, get divorced, move into a rental property that doesn’t allow pets, have a baby, or have health problems (allergies are among the most common reasons for giving up a pet).

Again, before acquiring an animal companion, it is essential to think about the future and how the pet can be cared for in certain situations. In addition, many people have welcomed a pet into their lives during the Covid-19 lockdown and are now faced with having to return to the office and the pet does not fit into this changed situation.

Animals can become acutely or chronically ill and require more care as they age due to age-related medical issues. This requires more of the owner’s time and can result in higher vet bills. Anyone adopting a pet should see it as a long-term commitment to care for their pet for as long as it lives, regardless of medical or age-related health issues.

Sad but true: Some people, especially children, lose interest in their pet and see them as a burden. Animals should never be bought to teach children responsibility; this often doesn’t work, and the parents end up having to take care of the pet, or it is given away or even abandoned.

Unneutered pets can have unwanted offspring. As a result, puppies and kittens are often handed over to animal shelters or, in the worst case, abandoned or killed. It is therefore important to have pets neutered.

Some pet owners find that their pet is exhibiting undesirable behaviors, e.g. B. that your dog is aggressive towards other dogs. To ensure that the animals do not develop behavioral problems, they should be properly trained and socialized from an early age.

Pets are often given up or abandoned because their owners can no longer afford to care for them. Many pet owners are unaware of how much it costs to keep an animal throughout its life. It is therefore important that pet owners educate themselves and ensure that they have sufficient funds to be able to care for their pet over the long term. Some of the costs may still be covered, e.g. B. for fodder; but when a pet becomes ill, veterinary costs can add to the budget.

People use pets for money (racing, breeding) or for sport (hunting, fighting). If the animals become too slow, old or ill, they are no longer suitable for their «purpose» and become superfluous. The lucky ones are dropped off at reputable shelters or taken in by animal lovers, but many are either abandoned or brutally killed.