Major MARS Survey: How Swiss People Think About Animal Shelter Adoptions

Anyone wishing for a pet eventually faces this question: breeder or animal shelter? A representative survey by MARS Switzerland provides concrete figures for the first time on how the Swiss population thinks about animal shelter adoptions – and where everyday life still presents hurdles. Around 1,000 people aged between 18 and 79 were surveyed in August 2025, shortly before World Animal Welfare Day.

From Buying to Adopting – Things Have Really Shifted

Not so long ago, visiting a breeder was simply the first – and often only – option for many animal lovers. That has changed. Animal welfare, sustainability, a sense of shared responsibility – all of these play a role in the decision today. Adopting also says: animals are not commodities. And it gives an animal a second chance that it might otherwise not get.

According to the MARS survey, 51% of Swiss people would adopt an animal from a shelter rather than buy one from a breeder. Adoption is therefore no longer a niche topic.

Nevertheless, doubts remain: many wonder whether they can really do justice to a shelter animal – or whether an animal from a breeder would simply be less complicated.

Life Situation Trumps Heart’s Desire – For Now

Even if the willingness is there: one’s own life situation often decides in the end whether an animal moves in or not.

• 29% of respondents forgo a pet because their job simply takes up too much time
• 19% cite costs as the main hurdle
• 18% have too little space

The desire for animal companionship remains strong nonetheless – and social media apparently fuels it further. Four out of ten Swiss people stated that posts about dogs or cats strengthen their desire for a pet. This seems to play a particularly significant role among women and younger people.

For many, it is not really about fun or companionship per se. 48% say they primarily wish for emotional support from an animal – something that helps cope better with loneliness or everyday stress.

What Really Holds Back Those Willing to Adopt

The survey reveals two concrete wishes that stand out surprisingly clearly:

• 65% wish for a simpler adoption process – less bureaucracy, more accessibility
• 46% would like to have the option of returning the animal in an emergency. Men and older people in particular cited this as important.

Every second person also hesitates to adopt a sick or older animal. This is understandable – and at the same time remarkable: Because of those who have already taken the step, 87% report great satisfaction. And 74% would do it again.

What the numbers really say

Behind every adoption is an animal that has lost its home at some point. This is not an abstract thought – it is reality in every animal shelter, every day. The willingness to adopt is growing, the data clearly show. But reservations and fears towards shelter animals are still widespread.

Why this is so, where this scepticism comes from – and how much of it is actually justified – we will look at more closely in the next part of the series on the large pet survey by MARS Switzerland.

A heartfelt thank you goes to Triple M Matzka Markt- und Meinungsforschung for providing the data and survey sheets (Web: www.triple-m-mafo.at).

The full press release from MARS – including all survey results for download – is available here: New representative survey on World Animal Welfare Day on 4 October commissioned by Mars Switzerland