In 2023, accredited shelters in Brussels took in 4,784 animals, a number that decreases year after year, Brussels Minister of Animal Welfare Bernard Clerfayt announced on Monday.
In 2022, 5,070 animals passed through one of the capital’s nine accredited shelters.
Cats continue to make up the largest number of animals arriving at shelters, with 2,745 recorded in 2023. “Among these, 80% were adopted,” Clerfayt said.
Sterilisation remains an issue. Although it is mandatory in principle, only 21% of cats arriving at shelters are sterilised.
Nine percent of animals that go through a shelter are ultimately euthanised due to illness. Most of these are birds.
“No animal has been euthanised due to a lack of space in the shelters or because of behaviour issues,” the minister’s office assured.
