Anderlecht (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – In January 2025, Veeweyde Animal Shelter in Brussels took in 32 animals, emphasizing the need for responsible pet ownership and adoption screenings to prevent neglect and abandonment.
According to Nolf, many people just abandon animals because they don’t know how difficult it is to care for them. People do not think about the time, effort, and money needed to care for them. She mentioned that a pet can seem like a fun or thoughtful gift.
Nolf highlights that new owners often do not realize the costs of food, vet bills, grooming, and training. She mentioned that after the excitement fades, giving attention to pets becomes hard for some people. This results in pet abandonment or taking pets to shelters and neglecting them. The problem occurs so frequently after holidays when people realize that pets are more demanding than they had imagined.
“Many people give pets as gifts without realizing that they cost time and money. After the holidays, some people quickly realize that they cannot take care of a pet,”
She says.
How do social media misconceptions affect pet ownership responsibilities?
According to Nolf, social media and ads create wrong ideas about having pets. They show pets as perfect. Dogs look clean and happy, and cats seem calm and easy. She said these images can make people think owning a pet is always fun and easy. But this is not true. Animals have behaviours that can be hard to manage.
Animals might bark, shed fur, scratch things, or act aggressively. When owners face these issues, they can get frustrated. She mentioned that they might feel their pet is not what they wanted. This difference between the perfect picture and real life can make people give up on their pets instead of learning how to care for them.
“The media, social networks and advertising often paint a ‘perfect image of pets, such as a dog that is always groomed or a cat that is always clean and calm,”
Nolf said.
In January, the Veeweyde Animal Shelter in Brussels took in 32 animals. The animals included 13 cats, 15 dogs, and 4 rabbits. The shelter worked hard and found homes for 18 of these animals through its adoption program.
The shelter is now undergoing renovations. Authorities mentioned that this situation has created more challenges for the staff. Because of the limited space and resources, the shelter had to refer many people who wanted to adopt or surrender pets to other shelters nearby.
Authorities mentioned that Veeweyde Animal Shelter has a careful process for people who want to adopt pets. Local laws do not require this process. The shelter wants to ensure that the adopters are a good match for the animals. They check if the people have enough time, money, and commitment to take care of a pet.
According to Nolf, the shelter often sees that some people are not suitable for certain animals, especially dogs that need more care. Sometimes, potential adopters choose not to adopt after realizing they cannot meet the time or financial needs of having a pet. She said this thorough screening helps prevent bad adoptions and ensures that pets go to homes where they can be happy and well cared for.
“This screening shows that some people are not eligible for certain dogs or they drop out because they do not want or cannot find the time or money for it,”
Says Nolf.
A new study by Figo Pet shows that many people want changes in dog ownership rules. About 66% of dog owners support a test for people who want to adopt or buy a dog. This test would see if they understand how to care for a dog and if they are ready for the responsibility. The study says that many dog owners believe owning a pet should come with more duties. They think these rules could help prevent people from getting a dog when they are not fully prepared.
The study also showed that 58% of dog owners think people without enough money should not be allowed to adopt or buy a dog. They are worried about the costs of pet care, like food, vet bills, and grooming.
The survey participants believe that those who are not financially stable may struggle to pay for these things. This could lead to neglect or not giving the dog proper care. More people are realizing that owning a pet is a long-term commitment. They want to ensure that pets go to homes where they can live well and be happy.
