Dyrenes Beskyttelse (Animal Protection) is experiencing an unusually large influx of animals at their nine shelters this year, creating a critical need for more volunteer foster families. According to a press release from the organization, a total of 2181 animals are either in need of a new home or waiting to be ready for adoption. Compared to last year, when the number at this time was 1649, the increase is significant.
Shelter manager Karina Fisker states that they are facing a summer with a record number of animals. “At the moment, it looks like we are heading towards a record-breaking summer. So there is really pressure on staff and capacity,” she says. Dyrenes Beskyttelse also notes that the season for abandoned animals has not yet reached its peak, and the number of new animals continues to rise daily.
“It is a sadly high number, which unfortunately increases every summer. Our animal shelters are filled to the brim, and our staff and volunteers are working tirelessly to keep up,” adds Karina Fisker.
Particularly challenging is finding foster families for mother cats with kittens. Fisker explains that many people are busy with summer plans, making it difficult to recruit enough volunteers. “We can see that people have many summer plans again, as it has been tough to find enough volunteer foster families, especially for the cat families,” she says.
The shortage of foster families means that the animals often have to stay longer at the shelters, which is not ideal. Dyrenes Beskyttelse emphasizes that kittens and their mothers need to get into private homes where they can receive the necessary peace and care.
In addition to cats, the shelters also accommodate rabbits, dogs, guinea pigs, and birds. The press release highlights that the most overcrowded shelters are located in Brande in Central Jutland, on Funen, and in Roskilde.