Animal adoptions decline amid shelter overcrowding and rising dog euthanasia rates

Total adoptions of cats and dogs fell by 16.5%, from 327 in the first six months of 2024 to 273 in the same period this year, according to the latest data published on the website of the Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM).

Breaking down the numbers, cat adoptions increased by 3.7% in the first six months of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024. The municipal kennels adopted out 195 cats in early 2025 versus 188 in 2024.

Dog adoptions, however, fell sharply.

The number of dogs adopted dropped by 43.9% in the first half of 2025, from 139 in 2024 to just 78. The steepest decline occurred in the first three months of the year, when dog adoptions fell by 57.4% compared to the same period in 2024.

While adoption rates have fallen, euthanasia trends show a mixed picture.

Cat euthanasia declined 65.6% between the first and second quarters of 2025, falling from 32 to 11, whereas dog euthanasia increased by 46.4%, rising from 69 in the first quarter to 101 in the second.

Overall, IAM euthanized 213 animals in the first half of 2025, 43 cats and 170 dogs, raising concerns over shelter overcrowding and animal welfare.

Speaking to the Times, Zoe Tang, president of the animal rights group ANIMA Macau, highlighted the shelter capacity issue.

“All shelters are already overcrowded and have reached their capacity, unable to take in more animals – and ours (ANIMA) is no exception,” Tang told The Times.

She explained that increased euthanasia at the local kennel in the second quarter reflects limited shelter space.

The ANIMA president stressed that shelters’ limited space means even adoptable animals face euthanasia.

When asked about Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) versus Trap-Neuter-Adoption (TNA), she expressed that TNR offers a more sustainable solution than the current TNA approach used by the IAM.

“Although the IAM has actively implemented TNA in recent years, the results show it to be ineffective – the rate of capturing strays far exceeds the rate of adoption,” she said.

TNR, which involves sterilizing and vaccinating strays before returning them to their habitats, helps stabilize and reduce populations humanely, improving animal welfare and reducing disease transmission.

Tang also told the Times that she has noticed many adopters prefer cats over dogs, largely because cats are more independent and require less care.

“Cats are easier to look after – they don’t need outdoor walks, can thrive in small spaces, and are generally quieter and more self-sufficient. Dogs, on the other hand, demand more attention, interaction, and space,” she explained.

This preference is also reflected in the IAM’s adoption data.

The president of ANIMA acknowledged that since Macau’s Animal Protection Law took effect, public attitudes toward pet care have improved, with greater awareness of spaying and the “Adopt, don’t shop” message.

However, she highlighted a significant and often overlooked issue: the cruelty behind the breeding industry that caters to demand for purebred animals.

“The availability of pets for sale in stores creates another problem,” Tang explained. “Some people choose to buy purebred animals, ignoring the inhumane treatment and profit-driven practices involved. This not only harms the animals themselves but also reduces opportunities for shelter animals to find homes.”

Return rates of adopted animals to the IAM also dropped, with only nine returns (one cat and eight dogs) recorded in the first six months of the year compared to 71 (31 cats and 40 dogs) in the first half of 2024.

Another factor contributing to kennel overcrowding is animal abandonment. In the first half of this year alone, eight cases of abandonment were recorded by IAM – already surpassing the total of six reported in all of 2024. The same number of cases, six, was also reported in 2023.

According to Article 5 of Law No. 4/2016, the “Animal Protection Law,” abandoning or releasing animals without proper authorization is a punishable offense. Offenders face fines ranging from MOP20,000 to MOP100,000 for each offense.