Maricopa County animal shelters are at overcapacity. Here's how you can help
Arizona animal shelters are experiencing overcapacity and looking for people to adopt and foster pets during the holiday season.
"Overcapacity remains an issue for animal welfare organizations in Arizona and across the entire country," said Jennifer Armbruster, senior manager of public relations at the Arizona Humane Society.
According to Armbruster, the organization, which operates two shelters, has seen a 22% increase in animals this year alone and has taken in the most animals in over a decade.
Maricopa County Animal Care and Control, which operates two centers in the county, is facing a similar issue. Kim Powell, communications officer at Animal Care and Control, said the shelters have been overcrowded for months due to the large influx of animals in comparison to previous years, leading to challenges for both animals and staff.
"We started seeing a higher intake of dogs come in back in April, which is early compared to previous years, and around August and September is when we started reaching numbers of 800 to 900 dogs to care for," Powell said, adding that county shelters have a capacity of 640 dogs.
According to Powell, the issue has forced them to share resources they otherwise wouldn't. "In order to house every dog that comes in, we have to split some kennels into two, so one dog is on the outside, and one dog is on the inside. It certainly isn’t ideal for either dog as now they have a much smaller kennel," she said.
Armbruster said Humane Society shelters were also seeing a "lack of space in our kennels."
Keeping dogs outside has been one of the major challenges, according to Powell, since county shelters have never had to accommodate dogs in the cold.
"Typically, this time of year, we do not have to split kennels and our capacity is much lower. However, this year, several dogs on the outside portions are wearing sweaters to stay warm. We’ve also placed a lot of huskies and furrier dogs on the outside," Powell said.
Overcrowding also impacts staff, Powell said, with extra cleaning, walking and feeding shifts needing to be filled. And caring for an increased number of dogs can have a mental and emotional toll, she said.
"Many people in animal welfare experience compassion fatigue, and being overcrowded exacerbates that," Powell said.
What to put under the tree? Here's a guide to the best pet gifts
Adoption events across Maricopa County
Animal Care and Control and the Arizona Humane Society are holding community events during the holiday season to mitigate overcapacity.
"One way to help is through adoptions, and if you are not ready for a permanent furry friend, fostering is a great way to learn more about a pet and see if they are a fit in your home," Armbruster said. "Any time of year, not just the holidays, the best way to help AHS is to adopt, foster and donate."
Armbruster said the Humane Society is continually trying to find innovative ways to address overcapacity. The "Home for the Paw-lidays" program is designed to find 1,200 pets a home by Christmas. According to Armbruster, the Humane Society was halfway through its goal as of Thursday.
According to Powell, during the BISSELL Pet Foundation’s “Empty the Shelters ― Holiday Hope” Event, the county is waiving all adoption fees on dogs 6 months and older through Dec. 17. The Humane Society also is participating in the event.
Animal Care and Control also is hosting the 12 Days of Foster event from Dec. 13-24, which invites Maricopa County residents to foster a dog for the holiday season.
"Our hope is that fosters help the dog find a forever home!" Powell said.