Overflowing animal shelters
Animal shelters across the U.S. are facing a significant crisis due to an influx of animals and a decline in adoptions. Connie Schierholz, interim program manager for Cedar Rapids Animal Care & Control in Iowa, said: “We’re open admission, so we can’t shut our doors like rescue organizations.” The Cedar Rapids shelter is currently at capacity with nearly 200 animals, while the Iowa City Animal Care and Adoption Center is also overwhelmed, housing 79 cats and 23 dogs. The increase in surrenders is largely attributed to financial difficulties faced by pet owners, exacerbated by rising veterinary and food costs. To combat overcrowding, shelters are implementing strategies such as opening pet food pantries and collaborating with rescue organizations. Schierholz emphasized the importance of community support, saying, “We have increased our rescue outreach pretty significantly this year.”
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