Editorial: Make reducing shelter numbers your pet project

Massachusetts hasn't been immune to the national crisis of animal shelters overwhelmed by the number of pets in their care.

Through MSPCA-Angell, more than 100 dogs currently are up for adoption, and organization officials say they’re seeking potential adopters who can immediately provide them with loving homes.

This marks beginning of an "ambitious" goal of placing 2,500 dogs into homes by the fall — a campaign spurred by what officials describe as the disturbing state of plummeting adoptions and overcrowded shelters.

"For the MSPCA's adoption campaign to be successful, the 142 dogs already housed in the organization's adoption centers in Boston, Methuen, Salem, and Centerville must be placed in homes as soon as possible," officials stated in a recent press release.

Mike Keiley, MSPCA's director of adoption centers and programs, said the organization has taken in 10% more dogs so far this year compared to the first half of 2022 due to an increase in owner surrenders.

While the reasons for the increasing shelter populations vary, the main culprits are COVID-related, including the relaxing of pandemic-forced social interaction restrictions, the associated inflationary spiral that's raised prices for essential goods and services, and a persistent labor shortage.

A PBS report in February stated that in the first 14 months of the pandemic, nearly one in five American households adopted a cat or dog. But as COVID precautions shifted and inflation took its toll on the economy, many of those pets went back into shelters — creating a capacity crunch.

In 2022, 4% more animals entered shelters than left. Animals remain in shelters for longer now than at any time in the past four years, according to Shelter Animals Count, a national database for shelter animals.

Compounding that problem: 88% of shelters have reported being short on staff during the pandemic, according to a survey by Best Friends Animal Society.

To get animals into homes, shelters have lowered adoption fees and offered resources for current owners who may not be financially able to keep their pets.

That's because the price of pet products increased nearly 12% last November, compared to the same time in 2021, with the price of pet food up more than 15%, according to the Labor Department.

And pet services — including veterinary costs — have ticked up more than 9% percent in the last year.

According to a 2022 Forbes survey, 42% of pet owners said a vet bill of $999 or less would cause them to go into debt, and 44% said they used their credit card to pay for a vet bill.

The dogs currently housed at MSPCA shelters reflect a mix of local surrenders and those brought there through transports, said Sara-Rose Brenner, MSPCA's senior public relations manager.

"We must find creative solutions to ensure these pets have a safe place to go," Keiley said. "This crisis is even forcing many shelters that receive transported pets to pause those relocations because they are at or over capacity."

Unfortunately, as shelters become more crowded, euthanasia has been on the climb across the country. Nearly 130,000 dogs that had been at shelters were put down last year, a roughly 39% increase from the 93,697 in 2021, according to Shelter Animals Count.

Officials say they suspect the trend's continuing, since nearly twice as many dogs met that life-ending fate during the first three months of this year compared to the same period in 2021, SAC figures released last week show.

"Without action from the MSPCA and others, as many as 150,000 dogs — or more — could be at risk this year," Keiley said.

MSPCA will be holding adoption events at all four adoption centers throughout the summer months. Adoption fees for all large breed adult dogs, one year and older, have been waived.

With their adoption centers are at 90% capacity, MSPCA officials say they’re determined to do everything they can to provide a safe place for locally surrendered pets to land.

To do so, MSPCA-Angell has announced an ambitious goal of placing 2,500 dogs in loving homes this summer through adoption events on the second week of the month.

The first event, Hot Fur Summer, will take place June 12-18.

Adoptable dogs can be viewed on the MSPCA website. If the dog has a star, that means their adoption fee has been waived.

The event will take place at all four of our adoption centers: Methuen's Nevins Farm, Boston, Centerville and Salem. Check the website to see each location's open adoption hours.

Review the "How to Adopt" page to learn what to expect. Many pets can go home with adopters the same day.

And the adoption centers carry all the pet essentials, including food, toys, and crates.

There has never been a more advantageous — or critical — time to offer a vulnerable dog, cat or other critter a home of its own.

Undoubtedly, it's a momentous decision that must be carefully weighed, but it's one that could warm the heart of both the adopting owner and adoptee.

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