BENTON CITY, Wash.- Animal Shelters everywhere are in trouble. Overflowing with animals they don’t have space for.
According to AP News animal adoptions have been on the decline since 2021. During the pandemic there was an adoption boom.
According to AP, many people blame the current overcrowding issue on abandoned “pandemic puppies” but shelter operators say that economic issues are the problem.
Rising pet care costs and housing insecurity seem to be a bigger factor according to AP.
“The economy right now is really challenging for a lot of families,” said Kim Alboum of the Bissell Pet Foundation, a national animal welfare organization. “And with the housing crisis, people are losing their homes and are having to downsize or move in with others. And this is a recipe for disaster for people that have larger dogs.”
The Pit Bull Pen in Benton City is one of many shelters struggling to keep up.
According to founder and executive director Trish Trickit, her office has been turned into temporary housing for the dogs in the shelter.
“We’re scrambling because we have nowhere to put even one more dog.” Said Trickit
According to Trickit most of the animals at the Pit Bull Pen are surrendered by owners. With only a few animals in the shelter strays.
Adoptions at the Pit Bull Pen are down to only one or two a month according to Trickit.
Trickit says that foster families are an extreme help but families should know it could be a long term commitment. Fosters are expected to take care of the dog until they are adopted.
According to Trickit all dogs adopted out of the Pit Bull Pen come fully vaccinated, spay/neutered microchipped and have been professionally trained in many cases.
