Overrun: the Animal-Centered Crisis in Central Virginia

In animal shelters across the United States, dogs and cats have spent at least a portion of their lives within walls, on hard, cold floors, surrounded by and forced to share tight living spaces with other animals.

Overcrowding in shelters is an increasingly large problem in America, with many shelters declaring it a growing crisis. 

Central Virginia specifically is facing this issue, with shelter numbers growing because of lost animals being brought in and pets being rehomed. Yet the animal shelters in this area are promoting their animals as much as they can, trying to get every pet placed in a warm, loving home.

A Crisis in the U.S.

According to Shelter Animals Count, a database for shelter statistics, 2023 showed that a total of 6.5 million cats and dogs came to shelters across America, a 4% increase from 2021. Intakes include animals that were brought in as strays, relinquished by the owner and animals that were transferred in.

While almost 5 million companion animals were adopted, 690,000 were euthanized, and 177,000 are still waiting in the shelters.

Non-live outcomes, which include euthanasia or death in care, have been on the rise. Dogs have shown a 24% increase from 2022 and a 64% increase from 2021. Cats are facing non-live outcomes at a slower rate, but are still at an 8% increase from 2022 and a 3% increase from 2021.

“A total of 900,000 animals have entered and lingered in our nation’s shelters and rescues since January 2021. This surplus is on top of the population already residing within organizations, resulting in an ongoing capacity crisis,” Animal Shelters Count reported in a data analysis.

Overcrowding in Central Virginia

Shelters all over Central Virginia have been facing overcrowding for the past couple of years.

According to the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, public animal shelters in the state had a total of 7,927 dogs and cats on hand by Dec. 31, 2023. This is about 130 more than the end of 2022, and about 1,300 more than the end of 2021.

At the Central Virginia Regional Rescue, statistics show that while they were able to get the majority of their animals adopted, by the last day of 2023, they had 15% of their animals still on hand.

Claire LeFew, the development and communications manager at the Lynchburg Humane Society, said Central Virginia is getting hit with animals being brought in.

“We are seeing a higher rate of over-surrenders and a higher rate of lost dogs,” she said. “In Central Virginia, I’d say, it kind of reflects the national issue.”

In the city of Lynchburg alone, 2023 showed 160 dogs and 30 cats being picked up and taken to the Lynchburg Humane Society.

Officer of Petersburg Animal Care & Control Madelaine Dennis said that since she started working at the shelter in 2021, she’s seen nothing but an overflow.

“Speaking to my colleagues who have been in the field for many years have said it’s never been this bad,” Dennis said. “Animals have become disposable to many people making the number of unclaimed, dumped, unwanted animals rise.”

Pets Out of Homes

LeFew said one of the main causes of overcrowding is lost dogs. She explained that government-run shelters are a part of municipal contracts, which state that lost animals have to be brought in.

“That’s why it’s so important for us to get the word out when we have a lost dog come in, that’s why microchipping is so important to link a dog back with their owner. And then also, there are a lot of people who just can’t keep their pets right now for whatever reason,” she said.

The reunion rate of owners and their lost pets is much higher for dogs than cats, according to LeFew. 

She also said that lost dogs who are brought in have a certain amount of time before they are available for adoption. According to state law, animals that have no attached identification are available for adoption after five days, while animals with any item signaling an owner are available after 10. 

Officer Dennis stated that the main causes she sees are lack of responsibility and accountability from owners, as well as people facing pressure that surrounds euthanasia. The Petersburg shelter is not 100% no-kill according to Dennis. However, the facility does not have the drug capability to euthanize, so each animal must be approved by a licensed veterinarian for euthanasia.

According to Dennis, Petersburg receives more animals than space is available for. 

“Animals come in faster than we can get them adopted or sent to rescue. We have dogs in our shelter currently who have been there for a long period of time in hopes the right adopter will come along,” she said. “In the meantime though, our long term ‘residents’ get lots of love and outside time from shelter staff.”

In regard to lost animals, Dennis explained that they try their hardest to locate an owner, but owners do not always come to claim their pet.

The Charlottesville-Albemarle SPCA director of marketing and communications, Luke Waldron, believes that overcrowding is influenced by several factors and can change based on location. He mentioned factors such as financial constraints among owners and unchecked animal reproduction.

“A single fertile cat can produce an average of three litters per year–an average litter produces 4-6 kittens. These intertwined issues underscore the multifaceted nature of the challenge faced by animal shelters,” he said.

Pets being rehomed by owners can also affect overcrowding, although several shelters encourage the owners to keep the animal until a new home is found. The shelters also typically help the process of rehoming by posting the animal on websites and social medias, promoting the animal as much as possible.

“It’s a service-type program, so we are helping them promote them and get the word out there, so their pet doesn’t have to come to the shelter. Especially when there’s time before they would have to give up their pet,” LeFew said.

Solving the Problem

According to LeFew, shelters that aren’t no-kill usually euthanize dogs that have been there the longest or that have behavioral problems.

“Shelters are having to make really hard decisions, even to euthanize puppies sometimes, just because it’s so overcrowded,” she said.

LeFew said that the Lynchburg Humane Society is full right now, but because they are no-kill, they try to promote the animals by holding adoption specials to lower prices, do extra marketing and find more creative ways to house pets, such as dividing the dog kennels in half.

The Petersburg shelter, according to Officer Dennis, does not have a set protocol for overcrowding, but they try to help as many animals as they can.

“We continuously work at max capacity for the very reason and hope of helping as many animals as possible. A common solution is rescues pulling animals and adopters. Without those two the shelter wouldn’t be able to run the way it does,” she said.

Waldron said that at CASPCA, they try to manage animal intake by supporting owners in their community. They do this through counseling, a pet food pantry, a low-cost care clinic and connecting owners with other, outside resources. In addition, CASPCA raises funds to reduce fees, and they are currently partnered with BISSELL Pet Foundation which helps cover costs.

“To increase our return-to-owner rates, we conduct public service campaigns in collaboration with local news stations and social media platforms to promote proper identification and low-cost microchipping clinics,” Waldron said. “Statistically, microchipping is the most effective method for reuniting animals with their owners.”

LeFew mentioned that an owner trying to find their lost pet can visit Petco Love Lost, a website that utilizes facial recognition software. The owner can upload their lost pet’s photo, and the site will try to find a match through existing lost pet postings.

Second Chances

At the heart of solving the overcrowding crisis is caring for the animals and ensuring they get adopted by permanent, loving families. One main core value among shelters in Central Virginia is an understanding view of challenges pet owners may face.

“We recognize that everyone's situation is unique, and we prioritize supporting the rehoming processes to ensure the best outcome. Rehoming any pet, especially after caring for them for many years, is an incredibly difficult decision, and we strive to provide resources to help keep animals in their homes whenever possible,” Waldron said. “Our approach to rehoming and owner surrenders is non-judgmental, focusing on facilitating transitions that prioritize the well-being of the animal and the people who have loved them."

“We will try our best and we won’t judge them. And especially when they’re adopting a pet straight from us, it doesn’t always work out in their home, especially if they already have other pets,” LeFew said.

LeFew said that even at the nicest of shelters, animals can easily become stressed in such a packed environment. She firmly stated that animals do not belong in shelters, and it is vital to find dogs and cats their forever homes.

“So, if there’s any way that we can keep them out of the shelter, going straight from one home to another home, we will do it,” LeFew concluded.