Raising abandonment –
They consider themselves too precarious to keep their animals
Swiss shelters face owners who explain that they no longer have the means to deal with them.
An animal can be very expensive, especially in care and health costs. Expenses not always envisaged by the owners at the time of adoption.
KEYSTONE
A cat, a dog, a rabbit: these are very adorable hair balls … but that cost and sometimes very expensive. The media «20 minutes» reveals this Tuesday that Swiss shelters and veterinarians find a worrying increase in animal abandonment. An act that the owners are increasingly justifying by increasing financial difficulties, which would prevent them from assuming the costs linked to health, but also to the custody, of their companion.
Complicated personal situations, such as a divorce, illness or job loss, are often behind these painful decisions. To support the poorest, some cantonal spa offer financial assistance. In 2024, the Genève SPA covered more than 55,000 francs in veterinary costs for owners in difficulty, while the Vaud SVPA invested 130,000 francs to treat around 500 animals, explains “20 minutes”.
The media also cites the figures, revealing of the magnitude of the phenomenon: in 2024, the SVPA welcomed more than 3000 animals (including up to 2,500 abandoned). The Genève SPA, it has identified nearly 800 abandonments over the same period.
Establishment when you know that adopting an animal involves long -term responsibility, which implies taking into account its own ability to assume its costs, both immediate and future.
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