An animal shelter in New Jersey’s largest city is so full, the people who run it say some animals may have to be euthanized. Now they’re reaching out to the community, hoping to find loving homes before it’s too late.
Typically, the Associated Humane Societies in Newark can comfortably house about 120 to 125 animals. At this point, they have about 170, 50 more dogs than they can handle, and are taking in an average of eight a day.
Normally, the shelter averages one or two take-ins a day, says Sherri Laraway, who works with the shelter.
Laraway, a dedicated rescue coordinator, says that given the current state, the shelter may have no other option than to euthanize at least 10 dogs, a measure she says it doesn’t often have to take. A 10-month-old Huskie is among those set to be put down, should the dogs not get rescued before Wednesday’s euthanization deadline.
“It never feels like we are ahead of the game,” Laraway said.
Laraway says it’s unusual to see so many animals given up at this time of year.
“People are calling saying, “I don’t know how much longer I can keep my pet because our SNAP program is ending. We’re not getting the money we need. We have to feed our families,” Laraway says.
State governments are trying to help fill the void. It may not be enough.
The Newark shelter isn’t the only one seeing a sharp rise in pet abandonment. Last week, St. Huberts put out an urgent plea for pet food after owners lost SNAP benefits. And Pet Resqu Inc urged people to donate pet food to owners in need. Laraway says the shelter is more than happy to help with food if that’s what owners need.
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