Overcrowded Arizona pet shelters impact rural Yuma

YUMA (AZFamily) — The Humane Society of Yuma relies heavily on rescue partners across the state to take in pets when they’re at capacity, but right now those shelters are full and it’s having an impact on smaller, rural shelters in Yuma.

Kennel space in Yuma is packed and the HSOY is facing some tough decisions.

The impacts of the Fourth of July have only made the problem worse.

“Since July third, we’ve taken in 94 stray animals,” HSOY development manager Lauren Weinberg, said.

She added only 12 of those 94 strays have been reclaimed by their owners.

“Right now we have between 350-400 animals in our care. On top of that we have hundreds in foster care. So we are definitely at capacity when it comes to animals,” she said.

It’s a statewide problem. Weinberg said shelters across Arizona are so packed right now that her team is struggling to transfer out any pets.

“We transfer on average up to 30-33 animals per week out to other rescues,” she said.

She said those transfers really help pets get exposure to possible forever homes.

While they strive to remain a no-kill shelter, she said they recently had to put down some animals.

“We try our best to not have to euthanize anything that is adoptable and friendly,” she said.

They’re hoping it might encourage more people to consider adopting.

They have pets that have been in the shelter for several months.

Right now, the HSOY is trying to get ahead of the problem by offering free microchipping to help identify lost pets.

“Every time we get to see one place in a forever home, it’s just such a great ending to what’s sometimes a really hard story to see,” said Weinberg.

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