Surging inflation and skyrocketing home prices are contributing to a nasty situation for animal shelters across the U.S., with many being filled or beyond filled, according to Best Friends Animal Society.
More pets continue to be surrendered to animal shelters and to make matters worse, the society shared that adoptions are “lagging way behind.”
At the same time, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals estimates that the cost of owning a dog is $1,391 annually and $1,149 annually for cat owners.
But owners aren’t the only ones facing rising costs, as shelters are also fighting the rising prices of food and medical treatment as they struggle to keep up.
Craig Cummings, the director of the Casper Humane Society, a shelter in Wyoming, spoke with Insider about the uptick in pet abandonment.
Cummings noted that the shelter has been at capacity all year, with more than 100 dogs and 200 cats waiting to be adopted.
"We receive calls on a daily basis from owners that can no longer afford to keep their animals, and people who are being displaced from their housing," Cummings said.
Issues around pet abandonment first started after workers returned to their offices, leaving them with nowhere to send their pandemic pets. But now the issue is affecting more than just those who got a pet during the nationwide shut downs.
Pet owners who are fighting to stay afloat are being advised to check if there are any nearby offers of support to help them and keep their pets at home.
The CEO of Best Friends Animal Society, Julie Castle, told Insider that some shelters are providing pet food for those who can’t afford it so animals don’t have to be abandoned.
"The pandemic kickstarted a wave of these donation-based pantries, finding a silver lining in an otherwise tumultuous time," she said. "Sometimes a bag of pet food makes all the difference between keeping a dog or cat in its home, or someone having to make the agonizing decision to surrender their pet to a shelter."
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