Animal adoption crunch hits Lake Tahoe and Truckee: Humane Society holding special adoption day
Submitted by paula on Tue, 08/16/2022 - 7:46am
Animal adoptions are on the decline just as the number of animals being turned into shelters is on the rise. According to Shelter Animals Count, a national database, there are six-percent more animals entering shelters than leaving. That’s a startling and scary number for thousands of homeless animals in need of help. The Humane Society of Truckee-Tahoe (HSTT) has seen a downtick in foot traffic and community members coming in to adopt.
Right now there are desperate pleas going out from shelters across the country asking for people to foster, adopt and help in any way they can. Tehama County Animal Care Center, a regular shelter HSTT pulls pets from that are in need, recently posted this on their social media, “For the first time in years, we had to euthanize dogs to make space for incoming strays. This was such a difficult decision for us, and one we know many shelters across the state are facing. Our heart breaks for these dogs, and that we couldn't do more for them. Shelters everywhere are over capacity, and none of us want to be in this position.”
The shelter in Tehama County is completely out of space for new animals. In just two days last week, 20 dogs were brought in and only one dog was adopted. That leaves 88 dogs in the shelter, plus more in foster care. There are only 47 kennels in the shelter.
Kern County, another shelter HSTT transfers pets from, posted this to social media on July 30: “Kicked off the Clear the Shelters event by clearing 5 kennels!!! We are busting at the seams so sadly those 5 kennels housed a total of 17 dogs!”
“This is the sad reality that so many shelters are facing at the moment,” says Erin Ellis, community engagement director with HSTT. “HSTT works with nearly 40 shelters or animal control agencies far and wide that are underfunded, under-resourced, and/or overcrowded, transferring pets in need to the shelter in Truckee. Some of these pets would have been otherwise euthanized; not because those shelters want to, but out of necessity for space. But we can only bring in so many at-risk pets.”
August Adoption Event
In order to boost adoptions and make room to transfer pets in need from other shelters, HSTT will be holding a free adoption event Aug. 25 - 27, 2022 at the shelter located in Truckee from 1- 6 p.m. each day. All adoption fees have been sponsored by Soaring Ranch. “We are hoping with the adoption fees generously sponsored by Soaring Ranch, we will be able to adopt out a record number of pets, in order to make space to continue our efforts in transferring pets from other shelters that are beyond capacity,” says Emily Holmes, HSTT Operations Director. “HSTT will have dogs and cats of all sizes ready to find their loving forever home.”
HSTT is also seeking foster homes for adult dogs. If you are interested in supporting the organization in this way, please contact fosters@hstt.org.
For more information, please visit, https://hstt.org/