It’s well known that the warm spring months bring animal shelters plenty of surrendered pets. Rescue organizations often refer to spring as puppy/kitten season; most stray animals have their babies during this time.
Additionally, owners surrender once-beloved “holiday gift” pets as their novelty wears off. Some people feel that letting a dog or cat run loose is okay once the warm weather arrives. While sad, the combination of these factors leads to very real issues for animal shelters.
During spring, shelters become overwhelmed and sometimes overrun. South Salt Lake Animal Shelter has acknowledged that their dog kennels are at max capacity, and shelter staff have reached out to the community to help.
A Community Shelter in Need
Shelter staff have noticed that most new surrenders have anxiety and other behavioral issues. They believe this could be due to current kennel residents having largely been adopted during the COVID-19 pandemic. Many owners never socialized these animals, or left them without company. This left them unsettled and confused as their owners returned to work. South Salt Lake is so full that they are no longer taking surrenders.
However, the shelter is very much open to dog adopters. Interested parties are able to visit adoptable dogs in person or online. At the time of writing, the shelter was home to a variety of furry friends, from a Pomeranian to six Husky mixes.
Adopting a Pandemic Pet
The pandemic shaped the way we socialized and raised our pets. The surge of people adopting dogs during the pandemic (often referred to as pandemic puppies) resulted in many adult dogs with behavioral issues such as reactivity and anxiety.
If you’re adopting a dog who came into the world during the pandemic, you’ll likely need to put in some extra work. You might want to enroll your new furry friend in basic training classes, for instance.
Additionally, be on the lookout for anxious or destructive behaviors. If your post-pandemic puppy starts developing new or troubling behaviors, consult a vet and/or animal behaviorist for help.
