Working Together Saves Lives: Join the Movement to Help Shelter Pets
Candy (with her adopter) was recently with Valley Humane Society for 40 days. Dogs are typically adopted within an average of 6-9 days. photo: Valley Humane Society
Sometimes the more things change, the more they stay the same.
After decades of lifesaving innovations aimed at reducing the number of pets euthanized in shelters, California animal welfare leaders are concerned that shelters are once again filling up. Adoptions have slowed significantly at shelters and rescues throughout the state over the past year, leaving cats and dogs who enter a shelter with no place to go.
Interestingly, there has not been the predicted mass return of pandemic pets feared by many who watched people scramble in record numbers to acquire a furry companion during 2020’s isolating lockdown. In fact, the number of dogs entering animal shelters in our state is down 16% compared to 2019, according to Pethealth Inc., a leading provider of animal management software to shelters across the country. Instead, shelters are filling up because they aren’t being emptied. The issue is lack of adopters.
Typically, private shelters and rescues would support public shelters by transferring animals into their own care, providing necessary treatment and adoption services. Their flexibility and resources often allowed less immediately adoptable dogs and cats—such as those with untreated medical conditions, seniors, and mothers nursing litters—to be cared for and rehomed. With adoptions down across the state, however, organizations like these, including Valley Humane Society, are unable to transfer in their usual numbers of animals.
With the overwhelming increase in pet acquisition during the pandemic, it’s natural to wonder whether Californians brought home so many cats and dogs that they simply don’t have room for any more. But this doesn’t appear to be the case. In fact, the problem actually seems to have originated with shrinking availability.
During 2020 and the first half of 2021, California shelters started to run out of adoptable dogs and puppies. While this was a great outcome for homeless dogs, the shortage of available animals caused many would-be adopters to turn to the internet to find their friend. Since then, the trend to purchase pets online appears to have grown. According to the Animal League Defense Fund, California is now the top importer of dogs and cats in the nation. Similarly, Best Friends Animal Society recently reported a 400% increase nationwide of people purchasing dogs and cats online from 2020 to 2021.
Not only has the increase in purchased pets led to fewer adopters visiting California shelters and rescues, online transactions also feed the puppy mill industry, which is well-documented for its animal abuses. These mills breed dogs for profit and do not afford them the love, attention, and care animals need and humanely deserve. Puppy mill breeders displacing a deserving shelter pet from a good home adds insult to the injuries they already perpetrate.
It is time to hit the reset button. California shelters and rescues have amazing animals just waiting for their next home. Valley Humane Society has launched “Share the Care,” an initiative to bring everyone together to create lifesaving outcomes for California’s dogs and cats. Government, nonprofit groups, and community members each have an important role to play: public shelters provide a safe haven for found and unwanted pets; private shelters and rescues alleviate overcrowding, take on special cases, and help pets stay with their families; and community members are needed to adopt homeless animals and follow through on spaying or neutering any pets they’ve acquired through other sources.
Share the Care recognizes that joining forces will have the biggest impact. Collaborating as a team and addressing the problem together will make a positive difference for companion animals in our communities and across the state. People who can’t adopt can still help by promoting and encouraging pet adoption among their family, friends, and colleagues. Anyone wishing to participate can also share adoptable pet profiles from their local shelter on social media to spread the word. Visit valleyhumane.org for more information on how you can Share the Care and make a difference for shelter animals today!