LOVE HAS NO BREED

More and more people around the world – and certainly in Azerbaijan – are choosing to welcome pets into their homes. These animals become more than just companions; they become cherished members of the family – pampered, fed with care, groomed, photographed, even dressed in outfits. Pedigree cats and dogs are especially in vogue: Spitz, Labrador, Maine Coon, British Shorthair – they dominate search engines and social media feeds.

Elite animals with pedigrees command hefty price tags. Proud owners share photos, projecting lifestyle and status. Yet amid this glossy showcase, many equally deserving animals remain unseen.

On the outskirts of the city, in wastelands, near markets – and in shelters – thousands of homeless animals wait every day… often in vain. Among them are not only mixed-breeds, but also once-beloved pets who were abandoned, lost, or forgotten. While pedigree puppies are purchased at high cost, others quietly die of hunger and loneliness, never having been given a second chance.

Why, then, do people continue to favour pedigree animals without considering how many stray and suffering ones are desperately in need of a new home?

Pedigree animals: what’s behind the purchase?

Pedigree dogs and cats attract attention for their looks and the prestige they carry. For many, buying a pedigree animal is less about companionship and more about status. Prices can range from several hundred to tens of thousands of dollars, depending on breed and pedigree.

Demand for pedigree pets is rising, largely because people are seeking animals that meet specific aesthetic or behavioural standards. It’s no longer just about having a pet – it’s about having the "perfect" one. Yet many fail to consider the long-term responsibility this entails. A pet is not a lifestyle accessory – it’s a living being that will share your home and require care for years to come.

Shelters: a different path to finding your companion

The stray animal situation in Azerbaijan remains tense. According to animal welfare volunteers, stray dogs and cats can be found in almost every public space – from parks to beaches – searching for food and shelter. While shelters do exist, they are few in number, often overcrowded, and underfunded.

Volunteers say the number of abandoned animals is also on the rise. The overcrowding crisis stems from a lack of funding, a shortage of volunteers, and limited space. Still, there are countless success stories of shelter animals becoming beloved family members. People who initially set out to purchase pedigree animals often discover lifelong companions waiting behind shelter walls.

Stories of rescue and transformation

Jayla. Her mother was killed before her eyes. When rescuers found her – wounded and trembling – they didn’t hesitate to take her in, even though they already had a dog named Jackie. A volunteer had pulled Jayla from the hands of a man who was beating her in the street. After a vet visit and lots of love, she became the happiest dog – sleeping on the sofa, eating freely, surrounded by care. She has a family now. And that means everything.

Archie. He lived in a shelter for five years. He was older, not conventionally attractive, and had an amputated leg. No one looked his way – until one day, a man mourning the loss of his wife visited the shelter. They exchanged a silent look. A week later, Archie went home. Today, they walk by the sea together – every day, in quiet companionship.

Lyla. A kitten in a cat shelter. Her sister was adopted by a woman who wanted a furry friend for her daughter. The shelter owner – who had turned her own apartment into a safe haven despite the inconvenience – suggested taking Lyla too. It turned out the woman’s friend was also searching for a kitten for her niece. Now both girls have a joyful new friend – and the two sisters are together again.

Five questions with an animal volunteer

Sevda has seven years of experience rescuing and caring for homeless animals. She’s helped over 80 find homes.

“Why did you start?”

"I just couldn’t look away. I saw a dog hit by a car, lying by the roadside while people passed by. No one approached. I did. And everything changed from that moment."

“What’s the hardest part?”

"Feeling powerless. There are never enough hands, never enough money or time. We save one, and five more appear."

“Is there hope?”

"Yes. When you see a former stray dog sleeping on a pillow, fearing nothing but losing its new owner – that’s hope."

“What would you say to people planning to buy a pedigree pet?”

"Look into the eyes of a shelter dog. If nothing stirs in you, go ahead and buy the pedigree. But if it does, you’ll never be able to leave the same way."

“How can you help if they can’t adopt?”

"A repost, a bag of food, a shelter visit, covering a vet bill – it all counts. Even a kind word matters."

How Azerbaijan controls its stray animal population

Azerbaijan signed the European Convention for the Protection of Pet Animals in 2003. It calls for humane population control methods – including sterilisation and vaccination.

Programmes based on the "catch-neuter-release" model are underway. One campaign in Baku treated 1,500 animals. Yet implementation remains weak. Despite legislation, cruelty and neglect persist due to limited scale and enforcement.

Recent legal amendments have increased penalties for animal cruelty: ₼1,000–₼1,500 for injuries, ₼1,500–₼2,000 for deaths, and up to one month’s arrest. Fines of ₼800–₼1,000 apply to those promoting cruelty in media or for profit.

Still, Azerbaijan lacks a comprehensive "Animal Protection Law" – essential for regulating ownership, welfare, and sheltering. Its adoption would mark a major step toward responsible and humane treatment of all animals.

Volunteers and their voices

Animal welfare volunteers believe more needs to be done than raising awareness. Many stress the urgency of sterilisation programmes and public campaigns to encourage adoption.

Activists face serious hurdles – including insufficient funding and logistical challenges – in organising mass sterilisation drives. Rather than destroying strays, they argue, efforts should focus on giving them a future.

Zaur, one of the country’s best-known volunteers, says: "People don’t realise that shelters are overwhelmed. There are so many animals waiting for a better fate."

How to make a difference

Successful models for reducing stray populations already exist. Countries like Türkiye and Germany have curbed shelter overcrowding and street animal numbers through widespread sterilisation and education campaigns. In Azerbaijan, the first steps have been taken, and positive change is emerging.

Animal advocates call for more state-backed social programmes, volunteer engagement, and legal reforms to support shelters and animal protection efforts.

What can you do?

Even small actions count. Consider adopting from a shelter instead of buying. Support local organisations with donations, supplies or your time. Raise awareness in your community – your voice may inspire others to act.

Stray animals are a global issue. While the popularity of pedigree pets endures, many are now recognising the value and dignity of shelter animals. Real change requires both individual compassion and national commitment.

Every animal is a life. And life – like love – has no breed. Every homeless animal deserves a better life. So give them a chance. Help them. In return, you’ll gain a loyal companion who truly needs you.