GREENSBORO, N.C. — Shelters across the country say inflation and rising pet care costs are just a few reasons why owners are surrendering their pets.
It’s a sad reality that means shelters are overfilling and in need of help.
According to Lisa Lee, the assistant director of Guilford County Animals Services, their shelter has taken in over 300 surrendered animals since January.
There are numerous reasons why owners surrender their pets, such as vaccine prices, housing issues, and daily basic needs like food and supplies.
It's not against the law to abandon an animal at a shelter, but Guilford County would like owners to call and make an appointment first.
They use the appointment system to ensure that they have space for the animals when they get to the shelter.
They would also like to learn more about the pet from their vet records like; whether the pet is spade or neutered, the socialization skills of the pet, and the behavior of the pet in the home. The more information the owner provides, the better the scenario is to place their pet in another positive environment.
Guildford County officials would like to keep pets and families together, which is why they have a service called Mobile Pet Assistance Center.
Through the service, they provide resources to pet owners who may need assistance for their pets like vaccines, food, bowls, beds, and more.
MPAC is hosting a food assistance and vaccines clinic on April 22. The event starts at 10 a.m. located at 4290 Alliance Church Road.
The center is asking pet owners to pre-register for the clinic on its website.
The center will host a variety of events throughout the spring and summer and pet owners can stay up-to-date on their social media pages.
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