The number of pet abandonment cases all over the world is soaring as inflation drives up the cost of keeping these beloved animals around and people who got pets during the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) lockdown period are now resorting to abandoning them as they return to their offices.
In Singapore, animal welfare groups said these new developments have emerged as major reasons why people abandon pets like cats and dogs. (Related: Florida citizens who abandoned their pets could face FELONY charges.)
Last year, the Singaporean government-run Animal and Veterinary Service (AVS) noted that it looked into 310 cases of pets being abandoned. This was up by nearly 38 percent from the 225 cases of pet abandonment in 2021. Furthermore, there were 251 and 230 pet abandonment cases in 2020 and 2019, respectively.
Aarthi Sankar, executive director of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, a private animal charity, said that some pet abandonment cases can be difficult to identify. The group regularly receives 50 to 60 cases of animals that were not microchipped or registered being abandoned each year.
