Cruel summer: dumped pet numbers soar in Île-de-France

Animal rescue centres in the Île-de-France are buckling under the pressure of a surge in abandoned pets this summer.

The SPA said that its four reception centres in the region - at Gennevilliers (Hauts-de-Seine), Orgeval (Yvelines), Vaux-le-Pénil (Seine-et-Marne), and Chamarande (Essonne) - are currently housing 1,550 animals, 650 dogs and 900 cats.

The centres are set-up to care for a total of 1,300 animals.

More pets are abandoned in the summer than at any time of year, but this year's spike is the worst local charity officials have seen, Le Parisien reports.

Every year about 100,000 pets are abandoned in France. A total 40% of that figure are dumped during the summer months. In April, the 30 millions d'amis association launched a campaign to raise awareness of the issue.