Pet shelters in Sarasota and Manatee counties are employing educational and other measures to prevent animals from reaching their doors as owners nationwide give up their furry friends following a pandemic-fueled adoption trend.

Increasing costs and a nationwide shortage of veterinarians also contribute to the new trend, local pet shelter officials say.

“Rehome requests have taken an uptick here in the Sarasota area,” says Jamie Limoges, director of marketing and engagement at the Humane Society of Sarasota County. “The number of people needing to rehome their pet due to their living situation is on the rise, and that can be from high pet deposits, high pet rent, breed restrictions, weight restrictions and the number of animals that you can have.”

Lt. Paul Cernansky of the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office, which operates the county’s animal shelter, says the vet shortage results in fewer animals being spayed or neutered, leaving room for an increasing animal population. Manatee County animal welfare chief Sarah Brown says the vet shortage, combined with the adoption of “Covid pets” and increasing costs, has resulted in overcrowding at shelters.

“As we see those numbers creep up, we’re seeing a bottleneck with getting animals in and out of the facility,” says Brown. “It’s becoming an overcrowding issue on a daily basis.”

The Humane Society and both counties all emphasize up-front education to prepare would-be adopters for the commitment they’re accepting with a pet.

Sarasota County’s Animal Services Shelter recently had 110 pets available for adoption, but they also outsource many animals to local rescue partners.

The Humane Society of Sarasota County is one of those partners, and with 200 animals available for adoption, the shelter is feeling the impacts of intake increases.

None of the organizations interviewed euthanize animals for space—only for health reasons, officials said. That means space is at a premium.

Older animals, large dogs or dogs of certain breeds, often pit bull terriers or mixes with that breed, typically remain in shelters the longest.

At the Palmetto Dog Adoption Center, Indigo has been waiting nearly four years. She’s one of nine dogs  that's been in the care of Manatee County Animal Welfare for over a year, and four more will reach that milestone by the end of 2023. All weigh more than 50 pounds and are mixed-breed.

“People have their stereotypes, even though we know [pit bulls] loving, amazing dogs,” says Brown. “There are also breed restrictions out there that prohibit people from having them, so there’s a high demand for small dogs. We get pretty stagnant with a 50 lb.-plus, [pit bull-type] dogs.”

Brown recognizes that breed stereotypes and changing housing restrictions are an ongoing battle, but she says it’s a conversation worth having.

“We treat all of our dogs as individuals, we treat our cats as individuals,” she says. “We do a lot of behavior observation and behavior modifications here, really working to make these dogs as adoptable as possible. Not treating them as individuals is just hurting dogs that really deserve a second chance at a forever home.”

In the meantime, she says Manatee County is focusing on other ways to help keep animals in their homes and out of shelters. Pet food pantries often accept donations to allow cash-strapped owners to still feed their pets.

Manatee  County also designated three new field officers to work with the community to identify pet related needs. Other projects under consideration: a telehealth vet service and post-adoption training to help both owners and pets transition into their new lives.

Sarah Owens is a reporter for the Community News Collaborative. Connect with her at [email protected].