CLEVELAND — Animal welfare organizations across Northeast Ohio are asking people to embrace the holiday spirit of giving by giving furry friends forever homes. The Friendship and Cleveland Animal Protective Leagues both tell 3News that they are in need of people to adopt animals, as supply is outpacing demand.
“We are definitely seeing the demand and the need for animal intake is outpacing our ability to move animals through the shelter and into new homes, and getting them adopted,” said Sharon Harvey, president and CEO of the Cleveland APL. “We are really, I think at this point, pushing to try to let the community know we desperately need your help with adoptions.”
“There is way more supply out there than there is demand for animals,” said Greg Willey, executive director of Friendship APL in Elyria.
Harvey and Willey both point to the effects of the pandemic and rising costs and inflation as reasons why they’re seeing this imbalance.
“Because people added so many pets to their homes during the shutdown, there aren’t as many people who maybe are in the market to adopt,” Harvey said of the spike in pandemic adoptions.
Additionally, Willey said the financial pressure that many may be feeling is a factor in adoptions, especially when considering the rising prices of pet food and vet care.
“We have a food bank the second Saturday of every month, it went from 30 people when we started, to now we’re serving over 90 families,” he said.
“There is a long list of reasons why people surrender their pets,” Harvey said, citing reasons like health problems or other pets in the home, among other reasons. “But certainly we have seen a subgroup where the increase has been among people who can no longer afford or have lost a home or are moving, or having landlord problems.”
As the number of adoptions fails to keep up with the number of animals needing home, animals are staying in shelters longer.
“Our average length of stay for an adult dog pre pandemic was about 12 days. It is 20 days,” Willey said, noting that their cats are faring better.
“If we don’t have places to put the new animals that need to come in, we have to make those animals wait, and that is extremely difficult to do,” Harvey said.
Harvey and Willey both encourage people, if they can, to adopt, and consider adding a second or even third animal to their homes.
“We were home with our pets 24/7 for literally nine months, to a year, some people got to stay home and work from home even longer, so they were home for two years, three years,” Willey said. “Then suddenly they’re being called back to work and they’re going back to work and their dog has no idea what to do with itself and is suddenly left to its own devices, and getting a dog for your dog can be a great idea.”
“You may already have a pet, but would your pet enjoy another animal companion, and perhaps it’s time to add a second,” Harvey said.
If you’re unable to adopt, both APLs encourage people to consider fostering, volunteering, or donating. The Cleveland APL will also be waiving adoption fees for adult animals from December 26th through the end of the month thanks to the Ken Ganley Auto Group.
“What better gift can you give than a new home to animals?” Harvey asked.
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