Soaring inflation, increases in living costs, unaffordable and restrictive housing are among the multiple factors contributing to a nationwide crisis of abandoned pets and overcrowded animal shelters.Not only is there a larger than usual influx of surrendered and stray pets in most facilities throughout the country, but the number of potential adopters has significantly dropped off since the beginning of 2021.A lack of sterilization practices, accidental and irresponsible breeding and abandonment have historically driven the pet overpopulation.In 1973, The Humane Society of the United States estimated that about 13.5 million animals were euthanized in the U.S. (about 20% of the pet population) and about 25% of the dog population was still roaming the streets. Intake and euthanasia numbers (national and state level) declined rapidly in the 1970s because of shelter sterilization policies, changes in sterilization practices by veterinarians and local ordinances implementing differential licensing fees for intact and sterilized pets. By the mid-1980s, shelter intake had declined by about 50%. The HSUS estimated that almost 10 million animals were euthanized in 1985.The 2019 COVID-19 pandemic created an environment where adoption rates spiked because many people staying at home sought companionship from a furry friend. On the downside, lockdowns often prevented people from properly socializing or training their new puppies, often causing behavior issues that were exacerbated by their ownersí return to work, which raised the petís odds of being returned to a shelter or adoption agency.With gas and food costs rising, family budgets are getting squeezed to the point where many are lacking funds for pet food and necessary veterinary care. ìWe have seen an influx in people seeking pet food in our food pantry, because they cannot afford people food either,î said Gretchen Baker, executive director of the Connections 4 Life Center, a food bank in Fountain. ìWe donít want the elderly, who have fur babies, to feed them human food because it is not good for their pets; and it is not good for them to go without either.îAs with other products affected by the supply chain issues, pet owners are reporting a shortage of their petsí favorite brand of food. Cat owners, who might depend on a specific brand and type of food for their catsí health, have seen retailer shelves empty or their subscription orders on hold for out-of-stock items. Wet food has been more affected than dry, but empty shelves are a nationwide trend. Duane Adams, president and chief executive officer of the Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region in Colorado Springs, said theyíve had many pets returned to them. ìWe do not know exactly when it started but there has been a steady increase within the last year,î Adams said. ìThe 2022 year to date statistics show a 42% increase in the intake of owner surrendered animals as compared to 2021 ó 2021 was considered an abnormally low year.î He said the Humane Society does not euthanize because of length of stay or space reasons, but with being 10% understaffed, they are stretching resources like most of their nonprofit counterparts nationwide. ìDonations are not keeping up with the increasing costs associated with caring for the influx of animals,î Adams said. ìWe lost a lot of volunteers during the hardest times of COVID and could always use more support.îAt Great Pyrenees Rescue in Peyton, there are more dogs coming in and fewer going out. ìTwo, three years ago we used to adopt out 200 dogs a year, now we are lucky if we adopt out five dogs a month,î said Judy Dole, who runs Great Pyrenees Rescue along with her husband, Dr. Michael Heffron. ìFor the past year and a half, Iíve been telling people wanting to release their Pyrenees (that) you can fill out a release form and I can put you on a list, but I cannot guarantee you a spot or when it is going to happen. Itís going to be weeks,î Dole said. ìWe are the only Pyrenees rescue in a multi-state area. And the relinquishment calls keep coming in.îIn addition to assisting owners directly, the Great Pyrenees Rescue works with the HSPPR. If a Pyrenees is brought into the Humane Society and is not re-homed, the dog is placed with Great Pyrenees Rescue. Since the dogs are fully vetted at the HSPPR, the cost to the Pyrenees rescue organization is minimized.Dole has a small facility with 16 indoor/outdoor kennels on their 5-acre fenced pasture (once a dairy farm), and they have a group of local foster homes, but it is still not enough to fulfill the volume of dogs that people are currently trying to surrender. She has about six volunteers who come and clean the kennels and assist the rescue to care for the dogs. Heffron said: ìWe walk the facility every night and give each dog three treats to make them feel special.îThe rescue is also having a hard time getting more foster homes to house the incoming surrenders. ìWe are constantly looking for more volunteers and local foster homes. We also have one of the lowest adoption fees for a rescue,î Dole added. The adoption fees are $300 for an adult dog.ìPeople need to do their homework with this breed, they are super sweet and loving dogs. Iíve never met a dog that is so intuitive about their owners, but they can be stubborn, hard to train; they shed and bark a lot as well,î Dole said.Best Friends Sanctuary, one of the leading no-kill organizations in the United States, lists housing as the most cited reason that people their dogs. Affordability, insurance and breed restrictions all affect the ability of people to keep their pets. Jenilyn Grebe, a property manager with the Townsend Group, said property owners are selective in allowing renters with pets. Many do not want to deal with pets at all because of the possible liability and risk of damage to their properties. ìI have an owner in Denver with eight properties who will not consider a renter with pets. He says, ëDo not even ask,íî Grebe said. ìA lot of times, the property owners are very worried about the breeds and size, and a lot of the dogs that people would rescue from shelters tend to be those breeds that people are afraid of, even without merit. Often, owners are limited by the HOAs in their options.îSome insurance companies will not issue a homeowner policy to a pet owner or renter with a Pitt bull type of breed and associated mixed breeds. German shepherds and Rottweilers are also an issue for some. A few states have passed laws prohibiting insurance companies from discriminating against a certain breed. Currently, Louisville is the only city in Colorado with breed specific bans.According to a Best Friends 2014 focus group survey, 84% of all Americans said that federal, state or local government should not tell citizens what breeds of dogs they cannot own. Pets can be a source of comfort, especially in uncertain times; however, regardless of the circumstances, pets are family ó they are a lifetime commitment.
