More abandonments, fewer adoptions, according to the Worldwide Veterinary Service

The pandemic spurred an unprecedented demand for pets in the USA, with many buying, adopting, and fostering animals in response to social isolation – until the easing of restrictions led to many of America’s lockdown pets being abandoned. With pet abandonment on the rise globally and rehoming programmes being disrupted and delayed, one animal welfare charity, Worldwide Veterinary Service (WVS), has been working under massively increased pressure at its centres in India and Thailand.

After the first lockdown in India, the charity’s centre in Goa saw a 266% increase in the number of cats and dogs being abandoned. With more animals being admitted and the effects of COVID-19 delaying rehoming, the centres have become a long-term home for dogs like Loki, despite the ever-growing costs.

At the height of the pandemic last year, Loki, a three-year-old Indian dog, was found abandoned outside the charity’s centre in Goa. He was in an extremely poor condition, suffering from a severe skin infection that had caused him to lose his fur. Loki was admitted and given medicated baths, supplements, and topical treatment, which improved his condition initially. However, due to immunity issues exacerbated by his abandonment, Loki relapsed and started losing his fur in patches. It meant that Loki spent over a year with the charity receiving treatment and specialised care, until he was ready to be adopted.

Dr Aswin Alisss, Clinical Director of the charity’s centre in Goa, said the increased abandonment has put intense pressure on the veterinary team and their adoption programme. “The pandemic has forced us to postpone many of our adoption events, where we can engage with the local community and find suitable homes for up to 25 animals in a single day. Fewer people are also interested in keeping pets due to loss of employment or income, which has lengthened the adoption process by one to two months. Two puppies, who we would usually see adoption applications for quite quickly, have now been with us for three months. It means that adult dogs like Loki will, unfortunately, remain in care much longer.”

Dr Luke Gamble, founder and CEO of WVS, explains that his teams are overcoming these challenges and more, every day, to help animals in need. “I set up WVS to provide veterinary care to animals who had nowhere else to turn, but the pandemic has pushed our work far beyond providing veterinary treatment. A series of lockdowns and a lack of tourism meant we had to go out onto empty streets and feed starving stray animals, whilst within the centres, we have been caring for more and more abandoned pets. We never turn an animal away for treatment, so this means that we’re dealing with ever-climbing costs.”

In the lead-up to Christmas, WVS has launched an appeal to help cover the costs to feed and care for its longer-term patients and give them a life beyond treatment, until the right home can be found. In the charity’s centre in Chiang Mai, Thailand, currently, 41 dogs looking for homes, costing £220 to feed and care for per week. While some dogs are adopted within weeks or months, others like Hans remain in care for years.

Hans spent 9 of his 11 years of life under the charity’s care after being rescued from severe abuse. In his former life, Hans was beaten regularly by his owner, causing him trauma and extreme anxiety. When he first arrived the busy shelter environment was too much for Hans, so he was placed in the care of a local foster carer for the first two years. Since then, Hans has slowly overcome his anxiety and been able to form special bonds with the charity’s team members, before finally meeting his adoptive family in October 2021.

Hans’ new family had been following his progress via the charity’s website for months before enquiring to see if they could provide him with a suitable home. A very slow introduction at the centre led to Hans sitting on the lap of one of his new owners – something which would have been unimaginable when he first arrived. After the successful introduction and home inspection, the team knew this was Hans’ chance to live out his golden years in a loving home, and he was officially adopted.

Mr Clarke, Resident Canine Behaviourist & Director of Operations for WVS Thailand, explained it’s often sick and injured stray dogs who are unable to return to their communities that become the centre’s longer-term residents. “As a major provider of free veterinary care in Chiang Mai, a province with a large population of stray dogs, most of the 20-30 cases we see every day are strays. This time last year, we completed the construction of a new Critical Care Unit on-site to triple the number of cases we could expertly manage, although, our biggest challenge remains finding homes for the adult dogs who were either once strays or pets, like Hans.”

Readers can help care for dogs and cats in India and Thailand who, through no fault of their own, have found themselves in shelters, waiting for the right person to come along. A donation of just £13 can feed and care for two dogs in Thailand for a week, while a gift of £25 can vaccinate 10 dogs against life-threatening diseases, preparing them for life in their new homes.

Learn more about the urgent appeal and how you can support here: www.wvs.org.uk/life-after-treatment.