The situation at San Diego's animal shelters has escalated to a state of emergency, with facilities bracing themselves for an expected influx of dogs during the imminent summer months. In a statement obtained by FOX 5/KUSI, the San Diego Humane Society disclosed that they currently care for approximately 640 dogs per day, which could spike to a staggering 3,000 during summer. "Our dogs are the issue right now. We are at 150 to 200% capacity for our dogs throughout this county," the Humane Society stated, underscoring the severity of the predicament.
It's clear that animal welfare organizations across San Diego County are feeling the heat and are now desperately calling on the community to step up to the plate quickly. Eleven prominent local groups joined forces in a rare show of unity on National Adopt a Shelter Pet Day, conveyed through a press conference where they urged public intervention. "Adopt, foster and spay/neuter before this state of emergency becomes a devastating crisis for animals and the people who love them," a plea communicated on a San Diego Humane Society page, signaling an urgent need for a preemptive community response.
A major contributing factor to this escalating crisis is the overbreeding of pets, specifically dogs. Representatives from the Humane Society explained the gravity of the situation by citing via FOX 5/KUSI, "In 6 years, two unaltered dogs, un-spayed and unneutered male and female and their offspring, can be responsible for over 60,000 K9s." Such statistics amplify the need for pet owners to take responsible measures in spaying and neutering their animals to curb the looming population boom.
In response to this urgent appeal, the coalition of local shelters has advised the San Diego community to adopt from a myriad of available pets, which range from playful puppies to the comforting companionship of senior animals. They suggest citizens also consider fostering—a temporary but life-saving gesture to alleviate the stress on the burgeoning shelter population. The call to action extends beyond immediate relief, advocating for an increase in the spay and neuter practices that can effectively cut down the root cause of the problem, worsened by limited access to these services during the pandemic.
The united front of these welfare groups represents a steadfast commitment to their "Staying at Zero" euthanasia goal for healthy or treatable shelter pets.
