Houston animal shelters near critical capacity levels due to COVID surrenders, evictions
Many of the companion animals that quarantined Houstonians adopted last summer are being returned, overwhelming already crowded shelters.
Owner-surrenders linked to a rise in evictions — combined with a decrease in adoptions and an uptick in abandoned pets — are filling shelters again, and taking a toll on animals living there.
The summer months are typically challenging because mating season means more animals. But this summer has been especially difficult for most area shelters and officials fear it will get even worse.
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The Houston Humane Society has seen an influx in COVID-related owner surrenders, causing the shelter to reach near critical capacity, said Angelina Saucedo, marketing director. Saucedo said she commonly sees owners surrender their animals due to time constraints, mostly because they are returning to the office or traveling again.
Molly comes to mind.