Pet Abandonment in the US

Kayleigh Kornher

What is pet abandonment?

When someone is unwilling or unable to care for their pet, they may leave the animal to fend for
itself.
Reasons include...

Owner was unaware of training/other commitment involved

Moving
Puppy mills & unsold or imperfect dogs
Many more

After abandonment

May end up in the pound

Pounds euthanize unadopted or unadoptable pets
US: minimum wait time before euthanasia is 48 hours
7 days in the UK
More likely to get sick or injured
Lowers the chance of adoption at a shelter

Is it legal?

Laws vary from state to state

California law: Every owner of any animal, who permits the animal to be without proper care and attention,
shall, on conviction, be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor. It shall be the duty of any peace officer, officer of
the humane society, or officer of a pound or animal regulation department of a public agency, to take
possession of the animal so abandoned or neglected and care for the animal until it is redeemed by the
owner.
source : https://www.animallaw.info/statute/ca-abandonment-%C2%A7-597f-failure-care-animals-duty-peaceor-humane-officers-disposal-abandoned
The ASPCA is working to fight animal cruelty and abandonment

Statistics

In the US..

The number of pets entering shelters as strays is 2x

the number of pets surrendered by their owners

4 million dogs abandoned in the US every year

130,000 in the UK

35% stray dogs are returned to owners ; 5% cats

2.7 million

Number of pets adopted from a shelter AND number euthanized

Connected issues

Pet overpopulation

stray/abandoned animals contribute to this problem

Puppy mills

Purpose = $$
Dogs from pet stores may come from mills
Puppies bought prevent other animals adoption
Pets in shelters are more likely to be put to death
Abuse of the animals within the mills, abandonment included

Local connection

San Diego Humane Society

6,200 dogs euthanized in San Diego pounds

Enforces laws to protect animals

Surrender option to prevent abandonment
Abandoned, lost, wild, or simply not adopted in time

Laws are in place against abandonment

Does not mean it doesnt happen

Specific Example 1
NY Times: Owners Abandoning Ill and Aging Pets in Hard Times

2011 Recession: more pet owners abandoned pets

Couldnt afford medical bills

Age, fleas, accidents, etc.
Some brought to shelter seeking euthanasia
Owner couldnt afford it
Often, dog was able to live
Owners made use of after-hours drop box

Animals not necessarily left to fend for themselves, but this is a good
example of reasons for abandonment

Specific Example 2
San Diego Shelter helping San Bernardino

February 2015:

191 dogs found in abandoned home San Bernardino

25 brought to San Diego with Second Chance Dog Rescue
Searched for foster homes for the dogs
Helped out the San Bernardino shelter (couldnt fit them all)

Sources
http://www.animal-rights-action.com/pet-abandonment.html
https://www.cesarsway.com/get-involved/rescue/reasons-dogs-end-up-inshelters-rescue-series-pt1
http://www.aspca.org/animal-homelessness/shelter-intake-and-surrender/petstatistics
http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/Local--292070801.html

Reflection
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5 points
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I liked this project because I got to look into topics I hadnt thought Id be
interested in and found that I am.