In 2023, 4,784 animals passed through one of Brussels’ nine approved shelters, compared with 5,070 in 2022. Cats, birds and dogs are the animals most frequently found in shelters.
Cats are still the most numerous in shelters (58%), followed by birds (22%) and dogs (15%).
At present, our Veeweyde shelter has to deal with 10 to 15 requests for abandonment every day.
Still too many cats in shelters
While the number of cats taken in by shelters is at its lowest since 2015, there were still 2,745 in 2023. “I’m delighted with this drop. Fewer animals in shelters means fewer stray, abandoned or seized animals. It’s also good news for the shelters, which can take advantage of a greater intake capacity and therefore offer better living conditions to their boarders,” explains Bernard Clerfayt, Brussels Minister for Animal Welfare.
Of these, 80% have been adopted. And, as is the case every year, the number of animals taken in by shelters peaks just before summer.
In the statistics published by the Brussels region, the three main reasons why cats are taken in by shelters are as follows:
- Stray
- Dropped off by their owners for various reasons: uncleanliness, moving house, divorce, birth, hospitalization or lack of time.
Given the number of animals in our shelters, we continue to advocate sterilization (which is compulsory), and pursue our mission of raising awareness and empowering adopters.
The Veeweyde team