Miwuki Report on Pet Adoption in Spain
Private owners who rehome animals
Which animals look for a new home when the person listing them is a private owner, and how they differ from shelter animals.
The figure
Private owners on Miwuki, 2025
48.1%of 2025 cases were listed by private owners
- 4,278cases listed by private owners
- 62.3%of their cases were dogs
- 24.4%chose “lack of time or space”
Read the full analysis
In 2025, private owners listed 4,278 cases of animals looking for a new home on Miwuki, 48.1% of all those listed in Spain. They are people who can no longer look after their animal or who are looking for a family for one they have found or for a litter. This page brings together what we know about them, separately from shelters and other organisations.
Has it changed over the years?
Private owners have been listing on Miwuki since December 2018. In 2019 they accounted for 29.1% of the cases listed and in 2025 for 48.1%: almost half. In numbers, they listed 4,281 cases in 2019 and 4,278 in 2025.
Partial period: 2017, 2026
Notes, marked milestones and chart data
Private owners have been listing since December 2018. 2026 is a partial year.
- February 2017 · Official public launch
- December 2018 · Private individuals arrive and a fuller profile
- June 2019 · The “Perfect pet” form begins
- March 2020 · COVID-19: state of alarm
- June 2023 · Platform update
Data as a table
| Period | Private individuals | Shelters and other organisations |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 0 (0) | 6,604 (Partial period) |
| 2018 | 124 | 10,844 |
| 2019 | 4,281 | 10,428 |
| 2020 | 3,491 | 8,459 |
| 2021 | 3,740 | 8,286 |
| 2022 | 4,872 | 7,413 |
| 2023 | 4,565 | 6,525 |
| 2024 | 5,001 | 5,163 |
| 2025 | 4,278 | 4,624 |
| 2026 | 3,027 (Partial period) | 3,151 (Partial period) |
Source: Miwuki Report on Pet Adoption in Spain · cut-off 22 October 2026 What IND-01 measures
Which animals do they rehome?
In 2025, 62.3% of private owners' cases were dogs, 30.3% cats and 7.4% other species. In shelters, dogs accounted for 50.1% and cats for 48.9%.
Among dogs, private owners list more males: 60.7% were male, compared with 55.6% in shelters. Among cats, 47.3% were male, compared with 50.2%.
Percentage of the cases listed by each type of publisher.
View the data as a table
| Category | Private individuals | Shelters and other organisations |
|---|---|---|
| Dogs | 62.3% | 50.1% |
| Cats | 30.3% | 48.9% |
| Other species | 7.4% | 1.0% |
Source: Miwuki Report on Pet Adoption in Spain · cut-off 22 October 2026 What IND-02 measures
Percentage of males according to the profile; the rest are females or not stated.
Source: Miwuki Report on Pet Adoption in Spain · cut-off 22 October 2026 What IND-40 measures
How old are they?
Older than shelter animals
- 26.1%of their dogs were under one year old
- 44.4%of shelter dogs
- 49.3%of their cats were under one year old
- 72.5%of shelter cats
Percentage of the dogs and cats listed by each type of publisher. Age calculated from the date of birth in the profile, which is often estimated.
View the data as a table
| Category | Private individuals | Shelters and other organisations |
|---|---|---|
| Under 1 year | 33.7% | 58.3% |
| 1 to 2 years | 26.0% | 21.0% |
| 3 to 5 years | 23.6% | 12.5% |
| 6 to 8 years | 10.7% | 4.8% |
| 9 years or older | 5.9% | 3.0% |
Source: Miwuki Report on Pet Adoption in Spain · cut-off 22 October 2026 What IND-24 measures
Read the full analysis
Private owners rehome older animals than shelters do. In 2025, 26.1% of private owners' dogs were under one year old, compared with 44.4% in shelters; 26.1% were three to five years old and 12.2% six to eight. Among cats, 49.3% of private owners' cats were under one year old, compared with 72.5% in shelters.
Which breeds and sizes?
Breeds of private owners' dogs
36.9%are purebred (not counting hunting or PPP)
- 4.6%are Border Collies
- 4.0%are German Shepherds
- 9.4%carry the PPP flag
The twelve breeds private owners have listed most since June 2023; the rest, under “other breeds”. Breed stated by the publisher.
Source: Miwuki Report on Pet Adoption in Spain · cut-off 22 October 2026 What IND-26 measures
Percentage of the dogs listed by each type of publisher. Size is derived from the breed.
View the data as a table
| Category | Private individuals | Shelters and other organisations |
|---|---|---|
| Toy | 7.6% | 3.7% |
| Small | 13.2% | 16.3% |
| Medium | 53.9% | 51.4% |
| Large | 20.5% | 25.0% |
| Giant | 4.8% | 3.7% |
Source: Miwuki Report on Pet Adoption in Spain · cut-off 22 October 2026 What IND-13 measures
Read the full analysis
In 2025, 41.7% of private owners' dogs were mixed breed and 36.9% belonged to a breed that is neither a hunting breed nor potentially dangerous; in shelters, mixed breeds accounted for 63.1%. The breeds private owners list most include herding and working breeds: the Border Collie (4.6%), the German Shepherd (4.0%) and the Belgian Malinois (2.8%), as well as the American Staffordshire Terrier (3.5%). Among cats, 22.0% of private owners' cats were purebred, compared with 8.8% in shelters.
By size, 53.9% of private owners' dogs were medium-sized and 20.5% large. 9.4% carried the potentially dangerous dog (PPP) flag, compared with 5.9% in shelters.
Why do they look for a new home for their animal?
Why they look for a new home for their animal
- 24.4%chose “lack of time or space”
- 18.7%chose a change of address
- 12.3%had found it in the street
- 26.5%of written reasons mention housing
Percentage of private owners' cases. Only one reason can be chosen.
Source: Miwuki Report on Pet Adoption in Spain · cut-off 22 October 2026 What IND-38 measures
Read the full analysis
When listing, private owners choose a reason from a list. In 2025, the most chosen was “lack of time or space” (24.4%), followed by change of address (18.7%) and “found in the street” (12.3%): not every animal private owners list is their own. Litters accounted for 7.3%.
Since June 2023 they also explain it in their own words. In 2025, 26.5% of those texts mentioned housing (a home that does not allow pets or moving house) and 23.3% a lack of time or work. The “Housing and pets” page has the details.
What does their profile say?
What the profile says
74.1%of their dogs are good with children, per the profile
- 19.2%of their dogs are independent
- 11.1%of their dogs are escape artists
- 34.3%of their cats had a microchip
Percentage of each type of publisher's dogs with each trait ticked. Ticked by the publisher.
Source: Miwuki Report on Pet Adoption in Spain · cut-off 22 October 2026 What IND-32 measures
Percentage of each type of publisher's cats. Stated by the publisher.
Source: Miwuki Report on Pet Adoption in Spain · cut-off 22 October 2026 What IND-29 measures
Read the full analysis
Whoever lists the animal ticks its temperament, health and identification in the profile. In 2025, private owners described 19.2% of their dogs as independent (compared with 3.8% in shelters), 11.1% as escape artists (compared with 1.5%) and 74.1% as good with children (compared with 47.4%). These are optional flags, not a professional assessment: the differences may also reflect how each type of publisher fills in the profile.
The biggest difference is in how cats are identified: 34.3% of private owners' cats had a microchip when listed, compared with 82.9% of shelter cats, and 44.2% were vaccinated, compared with 84.5%.
Where do they list?
Private owners list mainly in the most populous provinces: in 2025, Barcelona (761 cases), Madrid (711) and Valencia (327). It shows where Miwuki is used, not where more animals are abandoned, and in provinces with few cases the figure changes a lot from one year to the next.
Number of cases and percentage of private owners' cases in the year.
Source: Miwuki Report on Pet Adoption in Spain · cut-off 22 October 2026 What IND-16 measures
Do they find a home?
- 82.4%of their 2025 cases are still “up for adoption”
- 16.1%appear as adopted
- 33.2%of their dogs got a request within 30 days
Percentage of each type of publisher's cases. Many private owners do not close the case: “up for adoption” may include animals that have already found a home.
View the data as a table
| Category | Private individuals | Shelters and other organisations |
|---|---|---|
| Adopted | 16.1% | 77.2% |
| Up for adoption | 82.4% | 16.9% |
| Deceased | 0 (0) | 1.0% |
| Not available | <0.1% | 1.6% |
| Other situations | 1.4% | 3.3% |
Source: Miwuki Report on Pet Adoption in Spain · cut-off 22 October 2026 What IND-04 measures
Percentage of the cases listed in 2025. Only requests sent through Miwuki are counted.
Source: Miwuki Report on Pet Adoption in Spain · cut-off 22 October 2026 What IND-22 measures
Read the full analysis
We do not know well, which is why we give no adoption rates for private owners. On the cut-off date, only 16.1% of the cases they listed in 2025 appeared as adopted and 82.4% were still “up for adoption”; in shelters, 77.2% appeared as adopted. Many private owners do not close the case on Miwuki when the animal finds a family, stays at home or is withdrawn, so the adoptions they record are not comparable with those of shelters: they are only a minimum.
What the platform does record are adoption requests. In 2025, 33.2% of private owners' dogs received at least one in their first 30 days, compared with 22.6% of shelter dogs; among cats, 28.4% and 23.2%. A request is not an adoption, and shelters also receive interest through other channels.
Frequently asked questions
What is a private owner in this report?
A person who lists on Miwuki an animal looking for a new home: their own, one they have found or a litter. Shelters, associations, rescuers, colonies and public administrations are counted separately, on the “Shelters” page.
How many animals do private owners put up for adoption?
In 2025, private owners listed 4,278 cases on Miwuki, 48.1% of those listed in Spain. It describes what happens on Miwuki, not in the whole of Spain.
Which animals do private owners rehome most?
Mostly dogs: 62.3% of their cases in 2025, compared with 30.3% cats. They are older than those from shelters: only 26.1% of their dogs were under one year old, compared with 44.4% in shelters.
Which dog breeds do private owners rehome most?
Mixed breeds are the largest group (41.7% in 2025), but among breeds the Border Collie (4.6%), the German Shepherd (4.0%) and the American Staffordshire Terrier (3.5%) stand out. It is the breed stated by the publisher.
Why do they give up their animal?
On the list of reasons, the most chosen in 2025 was “lack of time or space” (24.4%), followed by change of address (18.7%). When they explain it in their own words, 26.5% mention housing.
Are private owners' animals adopted sooner than shelter animals?
We do not know. Most private owners do not record on Miwuki when their animal finds a family: 82.4% of their 2025 cases were still “up for adoption” on the cut-off date. We do know that 33.2% of their dogs received at least one request in their first month, compared with 22.6% of shelter dogs.
How do I cite these data?
Miwuki. Miwuki Report on Pet Adoption in Spain. Private owners who rehome animals (data version 2026.10.22-r1; data cut-off 22 October 2026).
How is it measured?
- Who counts as a private owner. Each case is assigned to a type of publisher according to the account that lists it. Private owners have been listing on Miwuki since December 2018.
- What is compared. We compare how each type of publisher's cases are distributed in the same year: what share are dogs, puppies or kittens, males or purebred.
- Adoption. Adoptions are recorded by the publisher. Shelters record almost all of them; private owners, few. That is why adoption rates and days to adoption are only given for shelters.
- Limits. It describes what is listed on Miwuki, not every family in Spain that rehomes an animal. The profile and the reason are stated by the publisher.
How to cite and download
Miwuki. Miwuki Report on Pet Adoption in Spain. Private owners who rehome animals (data version 2026.10.22-r1; data cut-off 22 October 2026). The card with the 2025 figure is on the downloads page. The published figures, reports and infographics are licensed under CC BY 4.0 (Creative Commons Attribution): you can reuse them for any purpose, including commercial use, citing the source, the data version and the cut-off date.
How to cite
Miwuki. Miwuki Report on Pet Adoption in Spain. Private owners who rehome animals (data version 2026.10.22-r1; data cut-off 22 October 2026). https://miwuki.com/en/adoption-report/private-owners/
Short credit: Source: Miwuki Report on Pet Adoption in Spain (cases listed on Miwuki; cut-off 22 October 2026).
The published figures, reports and infographics are licensed under CC BY 4.0 (Creative Commons Attribution): you may reuse them for any purpose, including commercial use, crediting the source, the data version and the cut-off date. The Miwuki logo and the illustrations are not covered by the licence.