Animal shelters in Philadelphia are facing a crisis of overcrowding, exacerbated by the summer season. According to Sarah Barnett, the executive director of ACCT Philly, the shelter has seen a significant increase in the number of animals being brought in compared to last year. In an effort to alleviate the strain on their facilities, ACCT Philly is now offering incentives for people to foster animals.
The „Foster Frenzy“ program at ACCT Philly is encouraging individuals to open their homes to animals in need. Foster families will receive financial compensation for their efforts, with $100 for every adult cat fostered and $200 for dogs. Additionally, foster families will receive a kit to help care for the animals, thanks to funds from Little Hunter, a dog food company. This initiative aims to provide temporary homes for animals until they can be adopted into permanent families.
Homeward Bound, a pet adoption center in Blackwood, NJ, is also facing overcrowding issues. Dr. Ken Seranski, the executive director, expressed concern over the high number of dogs in their care, which is exceeding their capacity. To encourage adoptions, Homeward Bound is waiving adoption fees for dogs and extending their hours to accommodate potential adopters.
Despite these efforts, Homeward Bound may be forced to euthanize some dogs if space is not freed up by a certain date. This heartbreaking possibility underscores the urgency of finding homes for these animals. Many pet owners who have fallen on hard times are reaching out to shelters for help, leading to an influx of animals in need of care.
Individuals like Shalayby Parsons are stepping up to help by adopting animals from shelters. By providing a loving home to these animals, people like Parsons are making a difference in their lives. The ultimate goal for both ACCT Philly and Homeward Bound is to find foster families or forever homes for all the animals in their care.
If you are interested in fostering an animal through ACCT Philly’s program or adopting a dog from Homeward Bound, you can find more information on their websites. By coming together as a community, we can help alleviate the overcrowding crisis in animal shelters and ensure that every pet finds a loving home.
