‘Refugee’ exodus leaves pets stranded
South Africans emigrating to the US are increasingly abandoning their pets due to the high costs and logistical challenges of international relocation. Animal shelters report being overwhelmed by the sudden influx of surrendered animals as families prepare for departure.
Why it matters
This highlights the hidden social and emotional costs of mass migration and the strain it places on local animal welfare infrastructure.
As another flight carrying Afrikaners prepares to leave South Africa for the US next week, animal shelters have been flooded with calls by “refugees” wanting to surrender their pets.
“I have received at least 20 calls in the past few days — ‘We got our tickets yesterday and we’re leaving on Tuesday and need to give up our three dogs and six cats.’ That kind of thing. It’s cruel,“ said Jacqui Martheze, general manager of Woodrock Animal Rescue in Pretoria, a pro-life shelter that is home to about 500 rescued animals.
“I argue with them and tell them, ‘But you applied for this programme, you knew this was going to happen, why did you wait?’ And they tell me things like they didn’t want to upset their children, who are already going through an upheaval,” she said.
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