Who has a dog, has a treasure. This is something as real as life itself, it seems that it does not matter to those who decide to abandon their furry, which is very sad: when we decide to take them home, from that first moment they are already a member of the family. Why leave them on the street?
Although there can be many reasons, the end in all those cases is the same: furry ones feel sadness, emotional pain. Let's not forget that they are living beings, and that they have feelings. So let's see how neglect affects dogs.
How does abandonment affect them?
He would never do. Surely you have read or heard this phrase said many times, in campaigns against abandonment, or maybe even in songs. Although they may seem simply letters, the truth is that dogs show so much love and loyalty to their human family, that it makes us think that they would be incapable of abandoning us.
But when they are the ones who end up on the street, suffer brutal psychological trauma (forgive me the expression). They go from being in a safe place, away from the dangers of the outside, to having to manage to survive. And that, for dogs, is a very big challenge; too much.
We cannot forget that they depend a lot on people. If someone does not take care of them soon, they will most likely die of starvation, cold or heat, run over, mistreated or poisoned. Even if they are lucky and are taken to a shelter, they will need to be patient with them and that they be given a lot of love to be able to overcome it.
In addition, the dog can fall into a state of tremendous sadness And even when he could be rescued, the bad experiences lived while he was in a situation of abandonment, have consequences on their behavior since they learn what fear, abuse and abandonment in general is.
The animal will be affected for the rest of its lifeYou can even get depressed and become very ill from being abandoned.
What are the consequences of dog abandonment?
In addition to the consequences they have for the dogs themselves, there are others that should be taken into account:
Destruction of objects
La anxiety generated by being abandoned it can lead to inappropriate behaviors.
Dirt
Dogs can urinate about half a liter of fluid and expel about 200 grams of feces a day. If they are not cleaned, these can become sources of infection.
Disease transmission
Dogs can transmit some to humans, such as leishmaniasis, parasites (fleas, ticks, scabies, intestinal worms). And, although in Europe they are almost extinct, we cannot forget about rabies or ringworm.
Security issues
A dog in a situation of abandonment may feel fear and its defense, It can be attacking vulnerable groups such as the elderly or children.
They become predators
Sometimes these dogs unite in packs and attack smaller animals, generating in the most serious cases, imbalances in the environment that surrounds them.
How to solve the problem?
Think before acting
Before deciding whether or not to have a dog, you have to think about whether we are going to be able to take care of it as you deserve throughout your life. These animals they need water, food, toys, bed, in addition to care (daily walks and games, training, veterinary care), so we can only make them happy if we make sure they have everything they need.
On the other hand, you have to look for information in animal and protective stores, regarding the needs of these pets, which would suit you according to your way of life, the minimum care, common diseases and everything that supports a good decision.
Put the microchip
Keeping our dog well identified is key, since in case of loss, it will be easier to locate you to return it. So don't hesitate to take him to the vet to have him microchipped. In addition, it is advisable to buy a GPS necklace since, in this way, you can locate it without problem.
Educate him from day one
You have to start educating the dog from the first day it comes home. You must know whether or not you can climb on the furniture, if can sleep in human bed, or you should do it on your own.
In short, you have to know what the limits are so that family life is good for all. Of course, it is very important that it is taught with respect, patience and affection, and not with yelling or mistreatment.
Shoot him before he has the first heat
At 6-8 months of age you have to take the dog to be chastened. Why? Because one of the main causes of abandonment is unwanted litters. That it is very nice to see the puppies being born, no one denies it, but if those furry puppies do not have good families BEFORE they are born, it is most likely that more than half will end up on the street.
Dog abandonment is a very serious problem. However, if we all contributed our grain of sand, it could be solved in a few years, for sure.
What are the consequences of stray dogs?
Dogs in a street situation represent a real problem, since to begin with they do not have the necessary vaccines and therefore they are a major source of disease.
In addition there are a series of consequences such as:
- Excrement, since their stools are left anywhere on the streets, which attracts flies and other vermin, which are harmful to health.
- They water the trash from the containers, searching for food giving rise to more contamination.
- They can be aggressive and are always on the defensive, especially if they feel threatened. Similarly, when grouped together, they can be much more dangerous and aggressive.
- Lack of sterilization causes them to reproduce uncontrollably, compounding the problem.
What are the causes of dog abandonment?
Institutions such as the Affinity Foundation carry out studies that allow them to determine the main reasons why a dog is left to its own devices. These are in order of importance:
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Unwanted litters.
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Culmination of the hunting season.
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Undesirable behavior of the animal.
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Economic reasons.
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Loss of interest in the pet.
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Home removals.
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Allergies of any member of the family.
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Birth of a baby.
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Hospitalization or death of the dog's owner.
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Holidays.
What does the dog abandonment law say?
Since last July 2015, in Spain the abandonment of an animal went from being a misdemeanor to a crime. According to article 337 bis of the Penal Code, a person who is denounced for having abandoned an animal, to whom it can be shown that he has in fact done so, can be sentenced to 6 months in prison.
In addition, if it is proven that you have mistreated your pet or an animal without justification, the law has the power to disqualify it from having animals from one year to three, and if the animal has died as a result of abuse, the The sanction for disqualification is from one and a half to four years.
The mandatory nature of the use of a chip and although there is a penalty for those who ignore it, there are still many pets that do not carry it and this would make the location of the owner much easier.
What is the demand for abandonment of animals?
An animal that is found in the street in a situation of abandonment must be reported to the authorities. These, (town hall or council) make the arrangements to find the owner of the pet using the chip, if it does. It is taken to a place and a certain time is given for the owner to pick it up.
If you do not do it within the established period he is declared abandoned, it is sent to an official center and proceeds with the opening of the sanction file for the owner, the corresponding sanction is imposed according to the community to which it belongs.
The intervention of the prosecuting attorney points towards the defense of the rights of the animal that has been abandoned, suffered injuries or has died. The purpose of this is to build a jurisprudence in cases of abandonment, as a phase prior to abuse and little by little to regulate this type of crime against animals.
Where do abandoned animals end up in Spain?
There are hundreds of dogs and cats that are thrown out into the street annually by their owners, a good amount goes to the animal protectors and to municipal reception centers.
Unfortunately there is not enough capacity to collect them all and many end up dying of hunger, disease or run over.
Excellent information.