Keeping People and Pets Together
Click here to see animals we’ve helped from September 2020 through May 2021, September 2021 through may 2022, and June 2022 through May 2023.
C.A.R.E.’s program, Keeping People and Pets Together, partners with other community resources to keep pets with their owners and out of the overburdened sheltering system. Through warm referrals from rescue contacts, veterinarians, and other charitable organizations, C.A.R.E.’s goal is to keep adored pets with their ill or financially strapped owners. Additionally, we are sensitive to the needs of resident pets in assisted living and mental health facilities, in Public Housing Projects, and pets of military owners. Often, we can be there to provide food, acute veterinary care and hope when other services are not readily available. Last, we support programs that work with the homeless.
Keeping People and Pets Together really took off when the Covid-19 pandemic struck in March 2020. People came together to empty the shelters by fostering or adopting animals. From mid- March through June 2021, C.A.R.E. stocked community pet pantries with donated pet food and sent off financial donations.
Because of social distancing practices and other state mandates, C.A.R.E. sponsored surgeries and freedom rides to rescues as we were allowed. There were constant disruptions to providing services. Shelters, sanctuaries and rescues were significantly impacted by the Covid virus. Many shut down or stayed open with limited operations.
Fast forward to early first quarter 2022, people nationwide started actively returning to their offices, travel and normal social routines. Animals adopted during the Covid outbreak returned to shelters and rescues in alarming numbers. Every shelter started putting out calls for help and animal intake remains heartbreaking well in mid-2023. People were not able to spay and neuter their animals during the pandemic. The consequences of that remain devastating today. Additionally, people continue to not fix their pets and have litter after litter of unwanted animals.
With all of the homeless animals today, shelters have returned to euthanizing for economic reasons. There is just not enough space to house all the animals without homes. Owners are surrendering because of housing instability, food insecurity, and the inability to cover household and medical bills.
Companion animals are family! As people are struggling with their financial footing, we will continue to be there to work with owners to keep their pets with them.
