Animal rescue shelters in the north and west suburbs are reporting they have “skyrocketing” populations of pets, largely for reasons related to COVID-19 and the drop-off in many people’s desire for so-called “pandemic pets.” This high supply and lower demand left many suburban shelters unable to take in any dogs or cats following last month’s Hurricane Ida in the Gulf Coast.
Oak Park group: ‘a tough time’
Kira Robson, the executive director of the Animal Care League, an Oak Park-based pet adoption service, explained why her group decided not to take any Louisiana transports.
“It is a tough time because there are a lot of animals in need in so many different places, and now the hurricane hits and now there are animals there that need help and we are seeing declining interest in adoption and fostering,” Robson said. “It is an interesting and challenging situation.”
Robson indicated the easing of some coronavirus pandemic restrictions has taken some people’s attention away from adopting or keeping pets.
– Original Credit:
“I think the whole world went from being focused on staying inside and needing that additional companionship or something to do by fostering or adopting an animal to get additional exercise,” she said. “Now everybody is focused on events and they can travel to events and concerts. Also, lots of offices that were fully remote are trickling back to hybrid and school is going back. So, everyone is thinking about everything else and that took the focus off of fostering and adopting (pets).”
Morton Grove rescue: ‘we are beyond full’
Also not taking hurricane-displaced animals was Wright-Way Rescue, an animal rescue service in Morton Grove.
Development Director Siri LeBaron explained in an e-mail that not being able to assist “broke their hearts.”
“Homeless animal populations have skyrocketed this year, in large part as one of the fallouts of COVID. Many shelters slowed down or even closed, and that means that thousands more animals were left on the streets — or woods or fields — to reproduce. In addition, spay/neuter surgeries were put on hold as medical supplies were (understandably) prioritized for hospitals, and vet clinics everywhere reduced their hours (the waiting list for spay/neuter surgeries is still months long in most places we partner with),” she wrote.
LeBaron did not expect the situation to improve in the immediate future.
“We were not able to help with disaster relief this time because we are beyond full and have been for months, as we’re trying to help these same areas deal with the worst year animal welfare has seen. All our rescue partners throughout the rural Midwest, South, and Southeast are completely overwhelmed. If population genetics tell us anything, it’s that the moment a reduced population has a chance to resurge, it will. We’re expecting the next few years to be some of the toughest the animal welfare field has faced yet.”
