Spain Tops Europe for Pet Abandonment, New Report Finds

Spain ranks first among European countries for the number of abandoned pets, according to the report "He Would Never Do It" by the non-profit Affinity Foundation. In 2025, the country's shelters recorded 285,000 cases of abandoned animals being taken in — slightly fewer than in 2024. In the study authors' assessment, these figures "show no significant change and point to stagnation rather than real improvement."

The total includes 169,000 abandoned dogs and 116,000 cats.

Why are animals abandoned?

Among the main reasons: unwanted litters (15%), loss of interest in the animal (14%), moving or a change of residence (12%), the end of the hunting season (10%), and behavioural problems with the pet (10%).

Affinity Foundation director Isabel Buil stressed that the study was made possible thanks to the involvement of the shelters, which share data every year, allowing for a "thorough analysis of the reality of abandoned animals, cases of loss, and adoption in Spain."

The Directorate-General for Animal Affairs (DGA) at the Ministry of Social Rights told the EFE agency that there are currently no official statistics on abandoned animals in Spain.

How does the animal protection law work

The Law on the Protection of the Rights and Welfare of Animals (7/2023) classifies simply leaving an animal unattended as a "serious violation" with a fine of 10,000 to 50,000 euros. Among the "very serious" violations are a failure to meet obligations that resulted in the death of the animal (if it does not fall under criminal liability), as well as unauthorised slaughter. Such violations are punishable by a fine of 50,000 to 200,000 euros.

The law also provides for a penalty for failing to report the disappearance of a pet within a "maximum period of 48 hours." This carries a fine of 500 to 10,000 euros.

Isabel Martín Gómez, director of the Huellas shelter in Ávila, noted a decline in "classic" cases of animal abandonment — on the street, at gas stations, during the vacation season, or after Christmas gifts. According to her, this is linked both to the growing popularity of dogs as pets and to the effect of the law, which made it mandatory to microchip all animals.