The surge in animals entering U.S. shelters, up by nearly a quarter-million in 2023, signals a deepening crisis. Economic challenges, not just “pandemic puppies,” drive families to relinquish pets due to rising care costs and housing insecurity. Limited space in shelters, particularly affecting larger dog breeds, demands urgent attention to both economic hardships and strained animal welfare.
😪😥🙏🙏🙏
Animal shelters overcrowded with pets from families facing economic, housing woes t.co/oP1oIVgJiN— Mary Sutton Greeley (@Lucky_finds) December 21, 2023
via suntimes:
The number of animals entering shelters began to climb in 2021, after a pandemic-related dip. Adoptions haven’t kept pace with the influx of pets — especially larger dogs like Kaine — creating a snowballing population problem for many shelters. Shelter Animals Count, a national database of shelter statistics, estimates the U.S. shelter population grew by nearly a quarter-million animals in 2023.
Shelter operators say they’re in crisis mode as they try to reduce the kennel crush.
The issue is sometimes blamed on owners abandoning “pandemic puppies” purchased during the COVID-19 lockdowns. But advocates and operators say the evidence actually points to economic factors such as higher pet care costs and housing insecurity.
“The economy right now is really challenging for a lot of families,” said Kim Alboum of the Bissell Pet Foundation, a national animal welfare organization. “And with the housing crisis, people are losing their homes and are having to downsize or move in with others. And this is a recipe for disaster for people that have larger dogs.”
Overcrowded shelters with limited space are more of a dog problem than a cat problem, advocates say. Mohawk Hudson, for instance, has a lot of pit bulls, mastiffs and cane corsos.