During the pandemic, rescue centers experienced a spike in adoptions like never before as many sought a furry companion for their extended at-home stay.
However, now that COVID restrictions are wearing off, the opposite is occurring.
Bay Area adoption centers have experienced a record surge in owners returning their dogs, according to KPIX.
Contra Costa Animal Services owner-surrenders increased each of the last three months, with 23 in April, 32 in May and 40 in June.
"It’s just horrible," Pali Boucher, founder of Rocket Dog Rescue in Oakland, told the station. “I don’t think any of the rescues or shelters were prepared for this.”
She cited a pair of reasons why dogs returns have risen. First, people prefer not to own pets since they are spending less time at home with the return of in-person work and travel. Secondly, people simply don’t have the means to care for a pet due to the hardships of the last year and a half.
"I’d say 60% of the re-homing applications we are getting right now are people being forced out of their homes - being evicted or having to go care for an elderly parent or move back in with a family member," Boucher explained.
Despite being overwhelmed with animals, Boucher, along with the other Bay Area rescue groups, will continue to care for these dogs until they are adopted.
"Just almost overnight we became overly full. The shelters are overburdened," she said.
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