Cincinnati’s main animal shelter is operating in crisis mode and fears it will continue to be overwhelmed this fall. The shelter believes the pandemic has a hand in the number of pets it is caring for.Cincinnati Animal CARE says it has taken in 188 animals since Oct. 1, six days ago. “We have been at what we call code red status since May 19,” said Ray Anderson, media and community relations manager at Cincinnati Animal CARE – Hamilton County Animal Shelter.Anderson said the shelter is currently housing 85 cats and more than 100 dogs at its Colerain Avenue location. Hundreds more are in foster homes.The shelter is waiving adoption fees this weekend to try to get as many animals into homes as possible. Fees will be waived Saturday and Sunday from 12-6 p.m.”We hate to say we’re desperate, but we’ve got a lot of dogs and cats here that need to find homes,” he said.Animal shelters across the country are also full and bracing for impact. NBC News reports that animal advocates believe as many as 8 million pets could flood into shelters in the coming months.It is not clear how many families are facing eviction locally.”We are concerned, however, about the eviction moratorium ending. Anytime the economy goes down or something like this happens or a housing crisis happens, that is a huge concern for us,” Anderson said. “The industry saw this in 2008 as well when the housing crisis happened. We’re worried that we’re just now at the beginning of that again.”Anderson said the number one reason people are giving up their pets is the inability to find affordable, pet-friendly housing.He said if anyone is having trouble affording their pet, for example, pet food, the shelter may be able to help. Anyone interested in helping who is not able to adopt a pet is encouraged to foster, donate or volunteer.
Cincinnati’s main animal shelter is operating in crisis mode and fears it will continue to be overwhelmed this fall. The shelter believes the pandemic has a hand in the number of pets it is caring for.
Cincinnati Animal CARE says it has taken in 188 animals since Oct. 1, six days ago.
“We have been at what we call code red status since May 19,” said Ray Anderson, media and community relations manager at Cincinnati Animal CARE – Hamilton County Animal Shelter.
Anderson said the shelter is currently housing 85 cats and more than 100 dogs at its Colerain Avenue location. Hundreds more are in foster homes.
The shelter is waiving adoption fees this weekend to try to get as many animals into homes as possible. Fees will be waived Saturday and Sunday from 12-6 p.m.
“We hate to say we’re desperate, but we’ve got a lot of dogs and cats here that need to find homes,” he said.
Animal shelters across the country are also full and bracing for impact. NBC News reports that animal advocates believe as many as 8 million pets could flood into shelters in the coming months.
It is not clear how many families are facing eviction locally.
“We are concerned, however, about the eviction moratorium ending. Anytime the economy goes down or something like this happens or a housing crisis happens, that is a huge concern for us,” Anderson said. “The industry saw this in 2008 as well when the housing crisis happened. We’re worried that we’re just now at the beginning of that again.”
Anderson said the number one reason people are giving up their pets is the inability to find affordable, pet-friendly housing.
He said if anyone is having trouble affording their pet, for example, pet food, the shelter may be able to help.
Anyone interested in helping who is not able to adopt a pet is encouraged to foster, donate or volunteer.
