A recent surge in animal surrenders to the Minneapolis Animal Care and Control Center has city staff worrying about capacity issues and calling for adopters to come forward.
The center, located in Northeast Minneapolis, currently has 98 animals housed – a 47% increase from this time last year. In the past 11 days, 139 animals were brought to Animal Care & Control, a 57.5% increase from the same time in 2022.
“It’s crazy the amount of animals that are coming in here,” said Madison Weissenborn, the volunteer and community engagement coordinator for the center, adding this is normally the time of the year when the facility is at the lowest capacity. “This year is the complete opposite.”
On Wednesday alone, around a dozen animals had been brought in by previous owners for surrender. It’s unclear what exactly is causing the current influx. Weissenbron said it’s likely a multitude of issues, ranging from housing issues to abuse and neglect to a continued trend of pets being returned after a nationwide surge in adoption during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The center’s issues are exacerbated by a decrease in adoption.
“If our adoption numbers were up, this wouldn’t be that big of a problem … but our adoption numbers are down,” she said. “So with these animals coming in we’re kind of in this holding pattern of ‘oh my gosh are we going to have enough kennels?’”
As of Wednesday the center had enough space for all its animals and could take in more if necessary. Where they are struggling is with care capacity. With only six staff members – three animal technicians and three veterinarian technicians – to care for the nearly 100 animals, they’re struggling to uphold their “high standard of care.” That normally includes training, enrichment and several outside trips per day, which is “instrumental” in assuring when an animal is adopted that it is successful and that it doesn’t wind up back in the shelter. If the center takes more animals in, that workflow can’t be sustained, Weissenborn said.
“Every day more and more are coming in and we’re like ‘what are we going to do?’ The staff is so tired,” she said.
Currently 24 animals are in foster homes, which Weissenborn said is keeping the center afloat as they deal with the capacity issues.
In an effort to drum up interest, the city is waiving all fees associated with the adoption process, regardless of the age of the animal. The center had already waived fees for any animals older than seven months. The center is currently only open Monday through Friday, but is making an effort to open on Saturdays, beginning in “a couple of weeks.” All animals up for adoption can be viewed here.
“If we don’t have adopters, we’re just stuck and we don’t have anywhere for these dogs to go,” Weissenborn said.
