The **Municipal Zoonosis Control Center** in Murcia (Spain) is completely **overwhelmed with animals** and with more than 100 people on a waiting list to **abandon their dog**.
The owners of these **pets** can no longer take care of them and turn to this entity so that professionals can take care of them and **find new adopters** for them.
When the owners arrive at this center to leave their pets, the employees inform them that they cannot accept more animals and that they must sign up on a waiting list to **legally “abandon” the dog**.
According to José María Meseguer, one of the veterinarians at the center, in the newspaper La Opinión de Murcia, “there is a long waiting list to leave them, more than 100.” Many neighbors are waiting for a call from the center to bring their pets there. Although the center has 40 cages for dogs and 15 for cats, they are not enough for all the **requests they receive**.
An overwhelmed center lacking resources
The Official Protection Center also takes care of animals that have suffered abuse, including dogs, cats, horses, and even birds. The center in Murcia is completely overwhelmed due to a **significant lack of resources**.
The Animal Welfare Law, promoted by the government of Pedro Sánchez, establishes, among other aspects, the possibility of changing ownership and **providing temporary care for abused animals**. Although it is a reasonable measure at first sight, it is impossible to implement it without providing funds to specialized centers.
Lawyer Rocío Arregui Montoya has expressed in La Opinión de Murcia that “temporary guardianship or foster care is established to keep them away from the investigated person, a very positive measure,” although for it to work, “funds must be provided to specialized centers,” something that is not happening.
Contradictions in the Animal Welfare Law in Murcia
The **Animal Welfare Law** came into effect on September 29, 2023, with the purpose of regulating responsible pet ownership and ensuring the well-being of pets. However, the law presents certain contradictions that have not yet been resolved.
The law establishes that “municipalities will be responsible for the collection of **lost and abandoned animals** and their accommodation in an animal protection center. For this, they must have an emergency service for the collection and veterinary care of these animals, available twenty-four hours a day.” However, many municipalities **do not have sufficient funds** to offer this emergency service.
Likewise, municipalities are required to control **feral cat colonies** and have volunteers or employees who capture **stray cats**, vaccinate, deworm, sterilize them, and return them to the street.
Why can’t people take care of their dog or cat anymore?
The reasons why those more than 100 people are on the waiting list to **abandon their dog or cat** are unknown. However, what leads a family to stop taking care of their pet?
Every year, the **Affinity Foundation** conducts a study on this matter, and the main reasons for abandonment are usually:
- Unwanted litters, representing 15% of abandonments.
- Loss of interest in the animal (13%).
- Behavioral problems (12%).
- End of hunting season (11%).
- Economic factors (10%).
- Relocation (9%).
These are the main reasons stated by animal shelters and by people who take their animal to the shelter, zoonosis center, or corresponding shelter.
Cover photo: La Opinión de Murcia
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