Original Article: https://blog.theanimalrescuesite.greatergood.com/shelter-crowding/
The Association for Needy And Neglected Animals, or ANNA, is committed to rescuing animals. But shelter overcrowding is forcing the Pennsylvania shelter to turn away homeless cats in their greatest hour of need.
The dire situation is placing shelter director Ruth Thompson in the difficult position of saying ‘no’ to needy animals, which nearly happened when ANNA was asked to rescue 31 cats found in an abandoned trailer.
According to Eire News Now, the hungry cats were living in filth and riddled with parasites. Some cats had already died. The community was counting on ANNA to save survivors from meeting a similar fate.
But Thompson, who already had 100 shelter cats in her care, didn’t have room for 31 additional rescues. Worse still, she also knew the other local shelters were full.
“Just like every shelter – all across the country probably, definitely here in Erie – we are all full,” Thompson told the station. “This is the time. As much as our efforts go into TNR and spay and neuter, we are all full.”
The shelter director struggled to recall such a critical shelter period at any other point during her 18-year career.
Luckily, Thompson was able to split the needy cats between several shelters and rescues, each of which were already at capacity but made room for a handful of cats. Together, rescuers removed all 31 animals.
Yesterday we assisted PA State Police to remove cats and kittens that had been left to fend for themselves in a trailer….
Posted by ANNA Shelter Animal Cruelty Division on Wednesday, November 10, 2021
Meanwhile, shelters remain desperate for adopters and foster parents, who can help overcrowded shelters by giving shelter pets a temporary home.
TNR also helps reduce shelter overcrowding by fixing homeless cats, who otherwise go on to produce 300 kittens per year. Find out how you can support GreaterGood’s TNR efforts here.
Building outdoor cat shelters is another way to help feral cats survive cold winter weather. Find out to build an easy DIY shelter and convince feral cats to take shelter.
Learn how you can support crowded shelters (and by extension, shelter pets) during this very busy time of year.
Source: The Animal Rescue Site Blog
