Animal welfare advocates say there is a growing number of pets being given up for adoption, and shelters are running out of space.
"Louisiana is drowning in strays and surrendered pets," said Jeff Dorson, head of the Humane Society of Louisiana says the increase started as people returned to work from the pandemic, and is getting worse as inflation rises.
"The cost of living has gone up which includes pet food, vet costs, the costs of fuel, name it, and they feel they're in a pinch and can't afford the extra mouth to feed," he said.
Dorson says it is especially bad in regions where there is no parish animal shelter.
"People are dumping them on bridges, alleyways, back roads," said Dorson. "We're in a real crisis and none of us know what to do about it."
One thing people might consider, if shelters are full or not readily available, is reaching out to people directly to see if anyone can provide a new home for their pet.
"We're asking people to be creative, go on social media, please explain your situation and ask people to share your story to try and match you up with a new owner," said Dorson.
