More pet owners are giving up animals for adoption due to housing shortage

More pet owners in Maine are giving their animals up for adoption, and animal shelters say the biggest reason is a lack of housing where pets are allowed.

Pet-friendly housing is especially challenging to find in the state’s tight apartment market, said Jeana Roth, spokesperson for the Animal Refuge League of Greater Portland. The Westbrook shelter, which rejects no pets, had made 510 surrenders at the end of June this year, up 31 percent from 390 surrenders in the first half of last year. Roth said the shelter gets about three or four surrendered pets every day.

Joanne Adams, vice president of a small cat shelter in Bath called A Paw in the Door, said she has received more calls in recent months from people who have lost their homes.

“It’s hard enough finding an apartment or a house with the housing shortage as it is… let alone if you have a cat,” Adams said. She said she gets about 15 calls a week, three times more than before. The small shelter only has room for four cats at a time and puts those it can’t accommodate on a waiting list.

Pet owners who suddenly have to move at short notice have limited options. Fewer people in Maine can buy a home, and nearly half of all tenants in Maine have trouble paying rent. With rising prices and a shortage of available apartments, homelessness is also on the rise.

Another reason for increased surrenders is the consequences of the pandemic. Animal shelters say that following the surge in pet adoptions during the pandemic, some owners are now realizing they don’t have the resources to continue caring for the animals.

At the Animal Refuge League, the number of small animals surrendered — rabbits, guinea pigs, birds, gerbils, hamsters — has doubled since last year, Roth said. During the pandemic, she said, these were the pets many people chose to adopt.

“It takes a lot to care for small animals and critters, more than people probably realize at first,” Roth said. “Bugs and small animals are generally bought from farms or barns or pet stores. And I think during the pandemic a lot of families, a lot of people wanted companionship with pets.”

People who have given up their pets often call the shelter to see how their pet is doing and if they have been adopted, Roth said.

“It’s hard…especially when an animal is very much loved, but the family can’t find a place to live with them,” Roth said. “Makes it difficult for everyone involved.”

Jess Townsend, executive director of Midcoast Humane, which has facilities in Brunswick and Edgecomb, said the shelter often receives visitors who have lost their jobs or have housing problems.

“We’re talking to people all the time on their absolute worst day,” Townsend said. “If… your option is to be homeless with your kids or move to a place that doesn’t allow pets because that’s the only option, then choose the option that allows you to house your kids.”

A DIFFICULT DECISION

The Animal Welfare Society, in Kennebunk, began to see an increase in pet surrenders in the past month, taking in 62 surrendered animals from 46 in June, said Adam Ricci, director of operations and programs. Ricci said people who decide to give up their pets are trying to make a decision that they believe is best for their pet.

“We’ve helped a number of people (whose house burned down) who lived in a hotel with vouchers with their pets, and when the summer season hit… they were evicted and left homeless,” Ricci said. “These are the kinds of stories of the people who ask us for help. In this situation, we were able to provide boarding assistance…(and) medical care for this senior dog.”

Some shelters focus on supporting families in hopes of avoiding pet surrenders, by offering programs such as low-cost spay and neuter and pet food pantries.

“I think the role of shelters in Maine is to support pets and their people,” Roth said. “If a pet is loved, we want the pet to stay in their home.”

Roth said they have had no capacity or budget constraints — adoptions have kept pace, with 10 to 15 pets with new owners every day. She said the shelter is happy to have a community that is willing to adopt.

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