New York City has become so unaffordable residents are giving up their pets – and shelters are packed to the gills
New York City animal shelters are becoming overwhelmed as residents surrender more and more pets amid an ongoing affordability crisis, according to a new report.
The Animal Care Centers of New York City — a network of public animal shelters in Manhattan, Queens and Staten Island — told The New York Times they have 1,000 animals in their system as of last week. The shelter network is now caring for hundreds of cats, dogs and kittens. The network is also housing 50 rabbits, a dozen guinea pigs and several birds.
The increase in surrenders comes as pet owners are increasingly unable to afford their furry friends, according to the Times. People are surrendering animals “nonstop,” and the shelters are struggling to keep up, Animal Care Centers’ Communications Director Katy Hansen told the newspaper.
“Not everybody is surrendering their pet because they just don’t have time,” Hansen said. “There’s a lot of people that are just, like, really struggling. And it’s sad. You know, they come in, ..
