Animal Shelters Seeing Increase in Surrenders As College Students Leave for the Summer
Students of all ages look forward to summer break, and for very good reasons. Who doesn't want a chance to do a little less work for a while? While students are all on vacation or working summer jobs, though, animal shelters will be busier than ever.
As WUFT reports in an informational podcast, animal shelters in college towns will be missing many of their employees and volunteers if they choose to return home for summer. The most difficult part of this annual transition, though, is that some college students even surrender their pets before returning home.
In Gainesville, Florida, there's a particularly noticeable problem at the end of each school year. Both Humane Society of North Central Florida and Alachua County Animal Resources relies heavily on college students as shelter volunteers, foster parents and even adopters. When they all go away, rescue pets are less likely to find homes.
The disturbing detail here is that animals are being surrendered more frequently, too. Many students who adopt are excited to have a pet they may not have had at home, but they fail to consider what they'll do for school breaks.
Angel Whispurrz Cat Rescue owner Dhyana O’Driscoll now requires parental permission from college students who want to adopt from her feline rescue. She told WUFT that she's seen many of the cats she let students adopt being surrendered or just abandoned.
“Sometimes they’ll just put those cats or dogs out on the street and then go home for break,” she explained.
Though there are many factors behind this year's record number of surrenders, such as expensive housing, North Central Florida's animal advocates are pleading with the public to consider fostering or adopting an animal. There are so many pets who desperately need loving homes now more than ever!
Looking for more PetHelpful updates? Follow us on YouTube for more entertaining videos.
Or, share your own adorable pet by submitting a video, and sign up for our newsletter for the latest pet updates and tips.
