Uncovering the Most Abandoned Dog Breeds in Fort Worth
Adopting a pet is an incredibly rewarding experience. Unfortunately, many people choose to abandon their pets rather than commit to taking care of them. While we don’t know exactly why this happens, it is important to be aware of which dog breeds are most likely to be abandoned in Fort Worth so that we can help prevent abandonment and rehome as many dogs as possible. Let’s Take a Look at the Facts:
- Dogs Are Being Abandoned in Fort Worth – According to data from the Humane Society of North Texas (HSNT), there were over 7,000 animals surrendered to shelters in 2019 alone. This number has grown steadily over the years, with surrender rates increasing by 5% from 2018-2019. That means that more and more dogs are ending up homeless and waiting for new homes. Of these 7,000 animals surrendered, 4,000 were dogs—and that’s just in one year!
- Which Breeds? With so many dogs being abandoned each year, it’s important to be aware of which breeds are most commonly abandoned. According to HSNT data, the top three most abandoned dog breeds in Fort Worth are Labrador retrievers, German Shepherds, and Chihuahuas. While these may not come as a surprise given their popularity nationwide as well as here in Fort Worth, it is still concerning that so many of these breeds end up homeless due to abandonment or other factors. There are several reasons why these breeds may be accidentally bred or otherwise neglected by owners who can no longer care for them—these include lack of education about spaying/neutering pets or simply not having the resources necessary for proper animal care and maintenance.
Regardless of breed or size, all animals deserve love and attention from responsible owners who commit themselves fully to providing care for their pets throughout their lifetime. By understanding which breeds tend to get abandoned more than others here in Fort Worth and why this may be happening, we can work together toward preventing future cases of abandonment while working on rehoming those already affected by this unfortunate situation. Working together with organizations such as HSNT can make a huge difference in helping reduce animal homelessness due to abandonment or neglect across our city!