Animal shelters across the United States are facing a crisis of overcrowding and overwhelming demand.
As more workers return to offices and the costs of pet care essentials skyrockets, the number of unwanted dogs being surrendered to shelters has surged dramatically in the US.
According to Shelter Animals Count, which tracks data from nearly 7,000 shelters nationwide, the intake of stray dogs has risen by 6% from January to November compared to 2022.
Tough Times For Selters
Some shelters are now being forced to turn away animals due to capacity constraints.
Stephanie Filer, executive director of Shelter Animals Count, stated, “Shelters are quite literally at crisis, and some are making tough decisions like closing doors or reducing hours of operation.”
Between 2022 and 2023, the number of animals waiting to get out of shelters increased by 177,000, which shows the extent of crisis shelters are facing.
Zoe Kenney of Animal Care Centers of NYC explained that financial insecurity is a major factor driving pet surrenders.
