Why Shelters Are Pausing Pet Adoptions This Christmas

Shelters Halt Christmas Pet Adoptions to Curb Post-Holiday Surrenders

Animal shelters across Austria and Germany are taking steps to prevent impulsive pet adoptions this Christmas. With a rise in post-holiday surrenders, organizations like Hamburger Tierschutzverein and Fenja are temporarily pausing adoptions. The move aims to stop pets from being given as gifts without proper consideration.

The Hamburger Tierschutzverein von 1841 e.V. (HTV) will halt adoptions from December 20, 2025, to January 3, 2026. This decision follows concerns that pets given as Christmas presents are often returned within months. Many shelters report a pattern of surrenders three to six months after the holidays, as owners struggle with long-term commitments.

Fenja, another animal welfare group, is also pausing adoptions during the festive period—from December 20 to January 7. The organization stresses that every pet they place remains their responsibility, even if the adoption fails. Pets that cannot stay with their adopters are either taken back or moved to foster homes. Tierschutz Austria, the country’s largest animal welfare group, will keep its doors open over Christmas. Instead of suspending adoptions entirely, they will continue offering guidance to potential owners. Their process includes detailed interviews and checks on living conditions to ensure pets go to suitable homes. The goal is to discourage people from turning to unregulated sources for pets. Both Tierschutz Austria and Fenja warn that pet adoption should never be a short-term decision. The pandemic saw a spike in adoptions, but many pets were later returned when owners’ circumstances changed. Shelters now emphasize that bringing a pet into a home is a long-term commitment that lasts for years.

The temporary adoption pauses aim to reduce the number of pets surrendered after the holidays. By enforcing stricter checks and closing during peak gifting periods, shelters hope to ensure pets find stable, permanent homes. The measures reflect a growing concern over impulsive pet adoptions and their lasting impact on animals.