No pets allowed: Why people surrender their pets

Over the course of one year, more than 2,000 animals will come through our doors at Cocheco Valley Humane Society. How do all these animals end up homeless? Many people make assumptions about animal shelters, such as “animals are brought to the shelter because they have behavior problems” and “people who surrender their pets are bad”. 

In reality, many animals find themselves at the shelter through no fault of their own, and the people who surrender them are sometimes doing so because they have no other option and want their pet to have a happy life. None of us plan to surrender our pets but, for some of us, there may come a day when we have no choice. So how do all these animals end up at the shelter? And what can we do to avoid the same thing happening to our own pets?

Know the Cost

A large number of animals that are brought to the shelter are here because their owners could no longer afford to care for them. Basically, pets are expensive. And they only get more expensive as they get older and develop health problems. Before bringing a pet home, add up all the expected costs, like veterinary care and food, and be realistic about whether or not a pet is affordable. Then consider purchasing pet insurance to help cover all those unexpected costs – like the late night trip to the emergency vet when your dog accidentally swallows something it shouldn’t have.

Learn About Your Allergies

Another common reason why animals end up at the shelter is because their owner has allergies. One way to avoid bringing an animal home only to discover you’re allergic is to spend time spend time surrounded by the type of animal you’re interested in before adopting. Interested in a cat? Visit the shelter’s cat adoption room with your family members a few times, handle the cats, then go home and see how you each react. Some people with mild allergies to animals can get by with the use of allergy pills each day. For others, this might not be enough. 

Know Your Limits

Although we all find ourselves saying “I wish I could take them all home” from time to time, a few people quite literally try to take them all home and, in the end, find themselves overwhelmed by the number of animals in their care. Just remember: if having one cat is great, having 15 cats is not necessarily better. Even if you feel like you can take on one more pet, the animals you already have at home may disagree with you. Having too many pets at home can cause a lot of stress – not only for you, but for your pets, as well.

Have a Plan for the Future

If something should happen to you, who would take care of your pets? Many animals end up in shelters because their owners become ill, go into long term care, or pass away and there is no one willing to take them in. Other animals end up at the shelter because their owners divorce and neither person is willing to take custody of the pet. If you bring an animal into your home, make sure you have a plan for their future.

Living Arrangements

The number one reason people surrender their pets is because they are moving. In some cases, the person is moving somewhere that does not allow pets. In most cases, though, they’re moving and… well, that’s it. There is no other reason. They’re just moving. Moving to a new home may be stressful for pets, but it pales in comparison to the stress of being brought to the shelter and left behind by their families.

Do your research – there are many pet-friendly apartments out there! Remember, too, that some apartments may be pet-friendly but have size or breed restrictions. Never try to sneak an animal into a home where pets are not allowed. Should your landlord discover your pet, you will likely have to remove them from your home immediately (another reason animals end up at the shelter).

Obviously, things may happen in our lives that are beyond our control and could affect our ability to keep our pets. Many times, though, the reason an animal is surrendered to the shelter could have been prevented. Have a plan for your pet’s future and help us keep animals in their homes and out of the shelter.

Alaina Goodnough is the Promotions Coordinator at Cocheco Valley Humane Society in Dover, NH. She lives in Sanford, ME with three parrots, two cats, and two dachshunds. She can be reached at CVHS at devassist@cvhsonline.org