Significantly More Dogs Seized Than Before Corona Times

the hague - Since the coronavirus pandemic, the police have significantly seized more dogs that were neglected, abused, or showed aggressive behavior.

Since the coronavirus pandemic, the police have significantly seized more dogs that were neglected, abused, or showed aggressive behavior. According to the police, the pandemic may have had an impact on the increase. 'During that period, we saw people taking in pets more often and now, after the pandemic, they can no longer give little to no attention to them,' a spokesperson said.

The police noticed an increase in the number of calls about animal abuse. This year alone, there have been about 10,000 reports, compared to half that number a few years ago.

Furthermore, more dogs are being taken away by the police from their owners after biting incidents. Last year, the police confiscated 164 dogs following a biting incident, compared to an average of around eighty per year in previous years. This year, the number already exceeds ninety.

During the pandemic, there was a significant increase in the demand for dogs, leading to a surge in commercial trade. An expert from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at Utrecht University mentioned that this has resulted in an increase in anxious dogs. 'Regular breeders couldn't keep up with the demand, leading commercial breeders to introduce overbred dogs to the market and more stray dogs to be brought to the Netherlands,' the expert said. The Royal Dutch Society for the Protection of Dogs called the rise in seized dogs due to neglect or abuse a worrying trend.

In addition to dogs, other animals, especially cats, are increasingly being seized. The police have already removed animals from their owners at least 565 times this year, compared to 219 times in the whole of 2018.

Many puppies during the pandemic lacked sufficient social contact with people and other dogs, resulting in behavioral problems for some dogs. 'These problems can lead to aggressive behavior and may result in biting behavior.'

Seized animals are taken to a secret shelter. Anton Fennema, a veterinarian at AniCura, works at an animal hospital where seized animals are taken. Fennema also noticed an increase in neglect cases. 'Prior to the pandemic, it was mainly about aggressive animals and occasionally about neglect. Now, it's increasingly about neglect,' he said. According to him, this is partly because there is more focus on animal welfare. 'Neglect has always been there, but we have become less tolerant.'

In most cases, Fennema states that there is no intent. 'They are often individuals who can barely sustain themselves or live in poverty. It's a difficult situation for them because they love their animals dearly. Only in a few cases is there unwillingness.'

After the seizure, the owner can surrender the animal, and a new home will be found for it. In some cases, the animal may be returned to the original owner after a court decision.