In 2026, the Society for the Protection of Animals (SPA), a French organization dedicated to animal welfare, collected 9,508 animals between July and August. This represents a 20.8 percent increase compared to the same period in 2025, marking the highest number of animal cruelty cases recorded in France. Despite a comprehensive action plan introduced by Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu in July 2026 to combat animal cruelty, the situation continues to worsen. The SPA received 80,000 reports in one year, and shelters are nearing full capacity. As of August 31, 7,431 animals remained in shelters. In Évry, Essonne, a local shelter that typically hosts over 100 animals annually reported receiving nearly six abandonment requests each week. Some of these animals arrive traumatized, while others were abandoned after long-term ownership. France's animal cruelty law imposes penalties of up to five years in prison and fines of up to 75,000 euros. However, enforcement of this law remains limited due to a lack of training, resources, and available law enforcement personnel. Céline Gardel, a police commander and founder of the association 4 Pattounes, identified three main obstacles: insufficient training, limited resources, and a lack of time dedicated to animal cruelty cases. In 2023, the Interior Ministry introduced an "animal cruelty reference" status, aiming to have a trained officer in every police station. However, in practice, only about 10 percent of an officer's workload is devoted to this issue. The clandestine trade of animals on the Internet, especially on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Leboncoin, is a major contributor to the problem. Between September 2023 and June 2024, the animal rights group Quatre Pattes investigated online puppy trading and discovered 18 Facebook groups and eight Instagram pages with a combined audience of over 45,000 members. On Leboncoin, more than 3,000 advertisements for "kitten donations" were recorded in Île-de-France, many of which violated regulations. One example involved a person offering a donation of kittens from an unwanted litter, requiring 200 euros in cash to "reimburse the veterinary fees." The kitten, which had just been weaned, had fleas and worms and had never seen a veterinarian. Despite these challenges, the SPA reported a 17.8 percent increase in adoptions compared to 2025, offering some hope. Proposed solutions include stricter regulations on animal sales, banning puppy shows, and cracking down on "donations" that are actually disguised sales. Another idea is creating a centralized file listing individuals convicted of animal cruelty or deemed unfit to own pets. Improving law enforcement training is also considered crucial. For those witnessing animal cruelty, individuals are advised to report incidents to the police or call the dedicated number 3677. Adopting from shelters or animal welfare associations is also encouraged, as each adoption helps free up space in already overcrowded shelters.