In July, New York shelters reached capacity, and Chicago shelters reported nearly 56 animals arriving daily|Spot Us|CC BY-SA 2.0
Animal shelters across the US are overwhelmed as economic stress forces many families to surrender their pets.
At Charlotte-Mecklenburg Animal Care & Control in North Carolina, owner surrenders are up 43% from last year.
Shelter spokesperson Melissa Knicely says pet surrenders rise whenever job losses or inflation hit.
The trend is national. Minnesota’s Ruff Start Rescue received nearly 1,500 surrender applications this year, up from 1,292 in 2024.
Financial struggles, housing restrictions, and rising pet care costs are key reasons. Larger dogs face more surrenders due to higher upkeep and breed bans.
In July, New York shelters reached capacity, and Chicago shelters reported nearly 56 animals arriving daily.
Los Angeles shelters also report a rise in surrenders due to deportations.
With fewer foster homes and limited resources, shelters face a breaking point. Advocates urge struggling pet owners to seek help before giving up their animals.