America’s animal shelters are overwhelmed. Pets – and staff – are at breaking point
America’s animal shelters are overwhelmed. Pets – and staff – are at breaking point
The shelter where I work took in 694 animals last year. Every day, we face animal cruelty – and communicating the crisis can feel impossible
Just a warning, this article has some unpleasant parts to read
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I see this is a symptom of the larger problem of the unaffordability of life we face today due to low wages and inflation. People being unable to afford simple life necessities can certainly not afford to keep the pets they once cared for. It’s horribly tragic, and pets are now suffering the consequences.
Actually, the number of euthanized animals annually has plummeted from like 20+ million a year 50 years ago to close to the 1-3 million iirc. The problem has gone down despite increasing inequity
Oh, sure, because many more shelters are no-kill shelters. That just makes the burden in the shelters greater— caring for all the animals.
It's also due to increased efforts to get people to spay and neuter their pets, including reduced cost and free sterilization programs.
The cost isn't reduced anymore, and that's another contributor to this problem. $300 for a neuter, $550 to get shots and a neuter for a stray at local veterinary offices. You have to find a non-profit doing low-cost operations to get a cat neutered for under $150 in my state. Insurance in the veterinary market was a truly cruel and stupid idea.
I don't think that's it actually. There are fewer animals abandoned because of greater awareness of spaying and neutering and also more charities dedicated to moving pets around the USA. Traditionally, a lot of animals were killed down south, where strays are more of an issue. Now people pay to ship the animals up north where there's demand.
And the time commitment. I have been having to work more time than ever before just to maintain. I would love to have a dog but I know I don’t have the time to properly care for one
I have always had a cat for my entire life. I can’t imagine not having a cat. I just can’t. But I have to admit, it’s getting a lot more expensive to have a cat, wtf. Between cat litter and food, my expenses have exploded, but my pay hasn’t. That’s a problem.
Next cat, I definitely will train to use the toilet due to obscene litter prices
I’m definitely training my next cat to cook. that lazy motherfucker can help with the dishes, too, goddamnit.