Animal shelters and rescues across the nation continue to see more animals entering than leaving, amassing a backlog of adoptable animals and creating a crisis of existential proportions. To tackle the problem, the Humane Rescue Alliance has joined animal welfare advocates, shelters, and rescues in launching Share the Care, a campaign highlighting the powerful impact people can have on homeless animals in their community through even the smallest acts of kindness.
Animal shelters across the country are packed with dogs and cats who have nowhere to go. It’s a drastically different situation than in 2020, when shelters and rescues saw overwhelming demand for adoptable pets. For the past 18 months, the number of pets leaving shelters has steadily dropped, bringing shelters to or near full capacity
The newly launched Share the Care campaign illustrates the critical role the community plays in creating positive outcomes for cats, dogs, and other companion animals. There are many ways the community can give homeless animals a second chance at a wonderful life through Share the Care:
- Adopting a pet is the most immediate and impactful way to help.
- Fostering increases a shelter’s capacity to house more animals.
- Promoting adoptable animals through social media spreads the word.
- Volunteering and donating also support lifesaving efforts.
Preventing pets from entering shelters is another way to alleviate overcrowding. Tips on how to ensure lost pets make their way home and resources for rehoming animals can be found at joinsharethecare.org.
Stephanie Filer, executive director for Shelter Animals Count, said: “Without significant and immediate support from the public, data analysis of the past few years predicts adoptions will continue to decrease.”
For more information on specific actions you can take to help save animals’ lives and to pledge your support, please visit joinsharethecare.org.
About Share the Care
Share the Care is a campaign developed by more than 100 animal welfare organizations joining together to create national awareness of the need for people to join the lifesaving efforts of animal shelters in their community. Share the Care is about lifesaving together – government, community, and nonprofit working collaboratively to support homeless pets. Join the campaign at www.joinsharethecare.org to learn more.