SOUTH ABINGTON TOWNSHIP, LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — Animal shelters across our region are packed with pets waiting to find their forever homes. The humane society of Lackawanna County has seen a dramatic increase in surrender requests and they're desperate for help.
Pet owners are encouraged to have a backup plan that ensures their pets are properly cared for.
"They've become the best of friends," says Hrinko.
Megan Hrinko is the adoption coordinator at Griffin Pond Animal Shelter in South Abington Township. She says they're over capacity, which is nothing new, but surrenders are pouring in from all types of situations at an alarming rate.
"Unfortunately, with the uprising in tenant evictions that they're not planning for to having a pet, we see a lot of surrendering here, we're also seeing an uprise in the amount of hoarding situations in the area where we're obtaining 30, 40, 50 animals," stated Hrinko.
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Hrinko says pet abandonment is also a growing problem. The shelter is seeing an increase in animals being deliberately dumped by their owners.
"People don't prepare to have any sort of eviction. so they always want to keep an animal, but they don't always prepare for when they are unable to do so, and they rely on us as being plan b to bring the animal when a lot of times we have to turn them away and then they ultimately come here anyway because they get dumped," explained Hrinko.
The shelter relies on volunteers and donations from the community. They are constantly replenishing their resources, and their limited staff is working around the clock to keep up.
"We're not the only shelter. it's a nationwide problem, shelters and rescues across the United States are at double capacity. If you don't have an open kennel, you can't take in an animal. so we really need people to maybe adopt, they can volunteer if they can't adopt," added Sherri Crolly the development director.
Griffin Pond needs both product and monetary donations, as well as helping hands. To learn more, and view adoptable pets visit their website.
