A worrying trend is unfolding at Arizona animal shelters, with an increasing number of families surrendering their pets. Shelter leaders claim it’s not because they don’t want them, but because they believe they don’t have a choice.
In fact, shelter authorities report that more dogs are coming in than last year, and the reasons reflect a larger tale about life in Arizona right now.This morning, we had 790. Kim Powell, the communications supervisor for Maricopa County Animal Care & Control, stated, “We try to operate within 640 dogs.”
She stated that owner surrenders constitute a significant portion of that group. “We received 241 owner surrenders between May 1 of this year and July 31. “We had 182 in that time frame last year,” she said.
Maricopa County is not alone. Pinal County’s shelter is likewise full. “We’re now sheltering two to four animals per kennel, focusing on animals who get along. “We have very few kennels with just one dog,” said Pinal County Animal Care & Control director Audra Michael.
The staff at Pinal County Animal Care & Control frequently hear stories that revolve around a single issue: money. “They simply don’t have time anymore. They cannot afford them. They cannot afford to feed them. They cannot afford the vet fees. So they are regretfully parting ways with some other creatures,” Michael explained.
However, there seems to be another connection between immigration enforcement and the increase in abandoned or surrendered animals. States with strict immigration enforcement have also observed an increase in abandoned or surrendered animals.
According to the most recent immigration data, more than 56,800 persons were in ICE custody on July 13. However, it is uncertain how many people own pets. “One of the more emotional things that we do is help people surrender their pets,” according to Powell.
Powell said they are doing everything they can in Maricopa County, where shelters have become increasingly overcrowded. “There’s always, you know, something that we can at least offer to help them keep their pet even if it’s just for a couple more months while we open up some space here,” she told me.
Powell believes that the community can make the most difference, whether through adoption, fostering, or simply sharing the news about available resources.
