Kane County animal shelters overwhelmed with animals

While the pandemic led many individuals to undertake pets throughout quarantine, Kane County shelters are overwhelmed as many individuals at the moment are surrendering their animals.

Many have pointed to the financial system, inflation and returning again in-person to work as explanation why they’ve given up their pets, stated Kane County Animal Control Executive Director Brett Youngsteadt.

An enhance in folks surrendering pets started in August in line with the Kane County Animal Control Department, which is at present booked up for folks seeking to give up pets till early 2023. He stated native shelters are additionally seeing an increase in pets being introduced into their services.

The division requires folks to schedule appointments to give up pets so it might probably adequately plan and have sufficient area for the animals. The shelter has to maintain at the very least 10% of its cages open for strays, officers stated.

“We are not a large facility and I don’t ever want to turn away a stray animal because we want to make sure we can return it to its owner. We prioritize stray animals because mistakes happen,” Youngsteadt stated.

Around 23 million Americans adopted pets throughout April and May 2020 within the early days of the pandemic, which is almost one in 5 households, in line with the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

Now, Youngsteadt says he’s seeing many individuals who’ve needed to downsize for financial causes and can’t take their pets with them into their new, smaller house.

“Some dogs are having trouble with folks going back to work, and the majority of what we’ve heard and seen is a lot of economic reasons of people who had to downsize their homes and saw rent prices increasing,” stated Dean Daubert, Anderson Humane’s chief working officer.

Anderson Humane, which runs an animal shelter in South Elgin and an adoption heart in North Aurora, can be at present over capability with extra animals than they’ve area for, a situation they’ve been dealing with since late summer time.

Daubert stated they’re grateful to run a sturdy foster program that has taken in a few of the further surrendered pets.

For these getting a pet, Daubert recommends selecting a pet that matches their way of life. For instance, somebody might undertake an older pet if they’ve a low-activity way of life.

There is nobody particular sort of pet persons are returning, Youngsteadt stated. Even bunnies and hamsters have been despatched again, he stated.

“It’s always a hard decision to have to surrender your pet and we try to not take judgment because sometimes it’s a trying time in their lives and isn’t a good fit for their family any longer,” Daubert stated. “No one feels good about having to surrender a pet, but sometimes it’s the best choice for them or the animal.”

People can signal as much as foster animals with Anderson Humane on its web site at ahconnects.org or apply to volunteer with Kane County Animal Control at www.kanecountypets.com.

mejones@chicagotribune.com