South Africa
South Africa Index Details
Select Country
Estimated homeless cats and dogs
4.1 million
Estimated street or stray cats
1.7 million
Estimated street or stray dogs
1.7 million
Estimated cats and dogs in shelters
650k
4.0
Index Score
Score Scale:
Number of cats and dogs on the street or in shelters
0
10
0=High
10=Low to nil
3.5
All Pets Wanted:
Stray Populations & Responsible Breeding
3.6
All Pets Cared For:
Pet Adoption & Access To Care
5.0
All Pets Welcome:
Pet Ownership Barriers & Policies
Data Highlights
South Africa data shows above-average sterilization rates, which help with reproduction control of companion animals and is driving the ‘All Pets Wanted’ score up.
South Africa Index data shows poor rabies control. The country suffers from high rates of canine rabies which has not yet been eradicated in the country. In addition, there is no robust national rabies control program. This is bringing the ‘All Pets Wanted’ score for the country down.
South Africa data shows the population has a strong familiarity with shelters and rescue centers and a higher-than-average percentage of the population who would consider adopting from shelters or rescue centers (77% of the general population would consider adopting from a shelter in the future, compared to the global average of 67%). This is driving up the ‘All Pets Cared For’ score in South Africa.
Index data for South Africa shows there is a high perceived cost of veterinary care (49% of the general population list cost as a key reason they do not take their pet to the vet, compared to the global average of 30%). This is bringing down the ‘All Pets Cared For’ score in South Africa.
South Africa data shows a high perceived effectiveness of programs promoting pet adoption and fostering, connecting potential owners to shelters and rescue centers, and raising awareness of the benefits of having a pet which is driving the ‘All Pets Welcome’ score up.
South Africa data shows housing and space concerns are bringing down the country’s ‘All Pets Welcome’ score. 53% of South Africa’s general population agreed it is difficult to find a rental home when you own a dog and 44% say the same when you own a cat.