Many shelters around the U.S. are reporting full kernels and staff shortages, bringing bad news for hopeful pets.
“You’re not providing the service that you used to be able to provide. And in our terms, that means getting animals out of the shelter alive,” said Julie Castle, the CEO of Best Friends Animal Society, an organization that keeps track of euthanization data across the country.
With not enough staff, Castle said that many shelters are open for fewer hours and fewer resources go to dogs with medical or behavioral issues.
“So that leaves fewer opportunities for the animals to come out alive. We’re seeing shelters do fever events,” she added.
Melissa Knicely, an employee at the city-run shelter in Charlotte, North Carolina, said that euthanizations are 40% higher than last summer.
“During the month of June, if you average it all out, it would probably be 3-4 dogs per day,” said Knicely, who has worked at the Charlotte shelter for 15 years. “I feel like I’m crying wolf sometimes because we have been so full for so long and we’re shouting it out and shouting it out.”
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals said that hundreds of thousands of dogs and cats don’t make it out alive in shelters every year.
This comes as more pet owners are reportedly surrendering their four-legged friends because of higher housing costs.
According to a March press release from pet care service Rover, owners are currently spending $480-$3,470 per year for each dog, and the majority of owners are concerned that the costs of caring for their pets will continue to rise.
“Inflationary prices and financial impacts of the pandemic have affected how much Americans are spending on their pets, but a significant number are still rearranging financial priorities in favor of their dogs,” the report read. “In fact, nearly one quarter of Generation Z and Millennial pet parents have delayed having a child, or decided not to, and brought home a dog instead because of the lower total cost.”
The Humane Society forecasted that the number of animals being surrendered will continue to increase.
“While we don’t have data on the number of folks who are forced to re-home their pet because of the lack of affordable, pet-friendly housing, we anticipate that more people will need to make this difficult decision as property owners increase rent fees,” the nonprofit told MarketWatch.
