America’s Shelters Are Overwhelmed: Why More Pet Owners Are Saying Goodbye

Chicago Animal Care and Control (CACC) is sounding the alarm as a wave of pet surrenders strains its already overburdened shelter. In a troubling trend that mirrors rising numbers across the country, the city shelter is now taking in an average of 56 animals per day—up from 42 per day during the same period last year.

A photo shared on social media last week captured the reality: a long line of animals—strays and owner surrenders—waiting to be processed. The shelter’s staff and volunteers are doing their best, but the surge is taking a toll.

“In my experience here, this is the worst it’s been,” Tejeda said. “And I’ve spoken with others who’ve worked in this field for decades. They’re saying the same.”

The reasons behind the rising number of surrenders are complex. Economic instability, the soaring cost of pet food and veterinary care, and housing insecurity are all contributing. Many landlords are now charging additional pet fees—monthly or annual—which some families simply can’t afford.

CACC is urging owners to reach out before surrendering. Through partnerships with rescue organizations, they’re offering food assistance and rehoming support to keep pets out of the shelter system. An adoption event is scheduled for June 14 to help alleviate the overcrowding.

The crisis in Chicago isn’t an isolated case. In Denver, the city’s open-admission shelter is seeing similar pressures, with a staggering 237 percent increase in dog surrenders since 2019. Already in 2025, 634 dogs have been surrendered—nearly five per day.

Melanie Sobel, director of Denver Animal Protection, said the trend began in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. “A lot of people adopted during lockdown, but when life returned to normal, those animals developed behavioral issues due to poor socialization. Some people simply weren’t prepared.”

The situation is compounded by a nationwide shortage of veterinarians, making care more expensive and less accessible. In Denver, even euthanasia surrenders are up—119 dogs this year alone, triple the number from 2019.

The Denver Animal Shelter continues to operate around the clock, accepting animals through night drop-off kennels. Despite the surge, the shelter is maintaining a strong return-to-owner rate and continues to hold adoption events monthly.

To combat the root of the issue, Denver has launched programs like Pay to Spay, which provides free spay/neuter surgeries and grocery gift cards to encourage participation. They also offer temporary pet housing for owners in crisis and regular outreach in underserved communities.

Both cities agree that support—not surrender—should be the goal.

“If you’re struggling, talk to us,” said Tejeda. “There are resources out there. We want to help before it gets to that point.”

Sobel echoes the sentiment. “The most important thing people can do is be proactive. Spay or neuter your pets, train them with positive methods, and ask for help before surrendering.”

As shelters nationwide grapple with rising surrenders, the message from animal advocates is clear: caring for pets takes a community.