Animal Shelters at the Limit: More and More Animals Surrendered – STS Sounds the Alarm

The new Tierschutzstatistik 2024 of the Swiss Tierschutz STS documents a further increase: Last year, over 32,000 animals were taken in at animal shelters and rescue stations. The increase in voluntarily surrendered animals is particularly striking.

32,079 Animals in the Facilities of 66 STS Sections

The STS statistics record reports from animal shelters and rescue stations of 66 STS sections in Switzerland. In 2024, a total of 32,079 animals were taken in – 572 more than the previous year.

The admissions break down as follows:

• Surrendered animals (voluntary surrender): 25,403 animals (+306)
• Stray animals: 5,449 animals (+212)
• Confiscations: 1,234 animals (+61)

At the same time, 18,829 animals could be placed (+2,716 compared to 2023). Many animal shelters still manage placements despite high workload – but the growing number of admissions is putting structural strain on the facilities.

Which Animals Are Affected

Fish make up the largest group numerically: 18,605 specimens ended up in rescue stations in 2024 – almost exclusively voluntary surrenders.

Further figures:

• Cats: 7,963 taken in (+357)
• Dogs: 1,826 taken in (−12)
• Rodents & Rabbits: 2,047 taken in (+219)
• Turtles: 634 taken in (+41)
• Exotics: 185 taken in (+17)

For dogs, 1,009 surrendered animals were registered – an increase of 144 compared to 2023 (865). Official confiscations for cats nearly doubled: 501 cases were documented in 2024.

Animal Shelters Working at the Limit

Marco Mettler, Managing Director of the Swiss Tierschutz STS:

“The significant increase in animal numbers is not a good development. The animal shelters and rescue stations of the STS sections are increasingly working at their limits.”

Many facilities are reaching personnel and financial limits. Caring for animals, providing medical care and placing them costs resources – and these are becoming scarcer.

Why Animals Are Surrendered

There are several typical causes for surrendered animals:

• Spontaneous acquisition without realistic assessment of time commitment and costs
• Overwhelmed by training, care or health problems
• Changed life circumstances (moving home, career changes, separations)
• Lack of knowledge about species-appropriate keeping
• Online trade in animals from dubious sources

Many animals acquired during the Corona period are now ending up in animal shelters – as soon as everyday life returns or the demands were underestimated from the start.