A worrying trend is causing animal shelters to raise the alarm as pet owners make difficult decisions to make finances meet.
Many families are downsizing to keep up with the high cost of housing, but others are now in situations that leave little to no place for a pet, and many animal shelters believe it’s a major cause for the high number of surrenders in the Tampa Bay area.
“We haven’t seen anything like this as long as I can remember, for lots of different reasons, because it’s close to a crisis at this point because we don’t have room,” said Sherry Silk, CEO of the Humane Society of Tampa Bay.
The Humane Society of Tampa Bay houses more than 350 animals, but the shelter is well aware of the demand on shelters. However, Silk has noticed that the rising expense of housing is causing families to make difficult decisions about whether or not to maintain their pet.
“It’s because they can’t afford to keep them or they can’t afford their rent and they’re moving out of the area, or they’re moving in with their roommate and they can’t bring their dog or cat,” Silk said.
Fluff Animal Rescue in Seminole, Pinellas County, is also concerned.
“Just in the past month we had to stop owner surrenders,” said Kimmy Chandler, CEO and founder of Fluff Animal Rescue.
“A lot of people are messaging us or calling us in desperation that they’re being evicted and didn’t realize they would have to live in their car with their pet. It’s not something I thought we would see here.”
For many pet owners, a stretched budget leaves little to no room for resources.
“There is a tremendous need, but pet food is one of the number one things folks ask from us,” said Shannon Hannon Oliviero of Feeding Tampa Bay.
If you wish to support these organizations, visit Humane Society, Tampa Fluff Animal Rescue, and Feeding Tampa here.