Montgomery County Animal Shelter, DC's Humane Rescue Alliance Humane Rescue Alliance and The Prince George's County Animal Services Division are experiencing capacity issues, necessitating urgent calls for community support through adoption and fostering.
Why Shelters Are Overcrowded
Increased Surrenders:
A significant increase in pet surrenders has been noted across the DMV, partly due to economic hardships and people returning to work after the pandemic.
COVID-Related Trends:
The pandemic saw a surge in pet adoptions, but this was followed by a period where people returned to work, impacting their ability to care for their pets, and now shelter numbers are rising.
Reduced Spay/Neuter Efforts:
A decline in spay and neuter activities during the COVID years contributed to the current spike in animal populations.
Backyard Breeding:
A rise in informal or "backyard" breeding has also contributed to the surplus of animals entering shelters.
How You Can Help
Adopt:
Adopting an animal helps alleviate overcrowding and frees up space for other animals in need.
Foster:
Fostering an animal provides it with a temporary home and helps the shelters manage their capacity.
Volunteer:
Contributing your time to local animal shelters can help with dog walks, training, and other care duties.
Educate:
Spread awareness about the issue of shelter overcrowding and the importance of responsible pet ownership, including spaying and neutering.
Reunite Lost Pets:
Before bringing a found pet to a shelter, try to reunite it with its owner first, as this can help reduce shelter intake.
“ADOPT DON’T SHOP”
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