Increase in animal surrenders to US shelters; one animal was "returned in droves." As a result of pet owners giving up their dogs, cats, and guinea pigs due to inflation, shelters are overflowing.

Reeling from Inflation

According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the great pet adoption boom peaked in April and May 2020, when roughly one in every five US households-23 million in total-gave animals new homes during the epidemic. Pet owners have been forced to reconsider their priorities because our return to normalcy coincided with unprecedented inflation rates.

A recent Forbes survey found that 42% of pet owners may become insolvent after receiving a single unexpected veterinarian bill, and pet food prices have surpassed average inflation by 0.6%. Shelters across the US are therefore witnessing an uptick in owner surrenders and a sharp decrease in adoptions that shows no signs of improving.

We're currently full. Katy Hansen, director of marketing and communications at New York's Animal Care Centers (ACC), a no-kill shelter that has witnessed a 25% increase in surrenders this year over last, says, "We're placing animals in cages in the halls." People are sobbing, and it's part of their family. It's incredibly awful. However, your options are restricted if you decide between feeding your family or your pet.

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Surrendering Guinea Pigs

Hansen reports that guinea pigs bought during the outbreak are being returned in large numbers. "On average, we've taken in 200 guinea pigs by this point in the year. We have more than 650 this year.

The unexpected invasion of guinea pigs has several causes, but virtually all of them can be traced back to pet shops. They are easily reproduced and go for around $40; chain pet stores and mom-and-pop shops carry a revolving door.

Pet stores, unlike animal shelters, do not screen prospective customers, who likely believe a smaller animal that is happy to live in a tiny place would take less labor, energy, and money than a dog or cat.

Guinea pigs, however, require a sizable cage and nearly daily changes to their hay and bedding. Due to the difficulty in locating a veterinarian with the necessary training, vet fees may also be more expensive. Many prospective purchasers or adopters view guinea pigs more as a passing interest than a significant time and financial commitment (they can live up to 10 years). The issue is that their owners become tired of them.

Multiagency Collaboration

The only shelter in New York that takes in guinea pigs is ACC. Last year, it collaborated with the group Voters for Animal Rights to build support for a proposal that would outlaw the selling of guinea pigs in pet shops in New York. The hard part of the work is already done because the measure has gained the required supermajority vote, but the city council is holding up the last stage of approval. The ACC is hoping against hope for a hearing soon. Overall, shelters are in need due to a lack of personnel, a lack of veterinary services, a decline in adoptions, and a decline in foster care interest.

Despite increasing surrenders, total consumption has not increased from pre-pandemic levels. However, there has been a sharp decline in adoptions, which worsens the overcrowding problem. We always have a large population, says Hansen. This is mainly because a backlog of animals needs to be spayed and neutered around the nation due to pandemic shutdowns that slowed or stopped services entirely.

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