MUSCATINE, Iowa — Animal shelters across the nation are facing serious challenges as they struggle to find enough space for the growing number of animals coming through their doors. The Humane Society of Scott County alone reported taking in 380 animals in August.
Shelters have been forced to get creative in finding new homes for these animals, but another concerning trend is emerging.
Since 2019, data from a national animal welfare agency shows that over a quarter of dogs aren’t being reclaimed by their owners once they end up in a rescue center.
To combat this issue, some shelters are participating in initiatives aimed at reuniting lost pets with their owners. Meagan Koehler, President of It Takes A Village, said that her no-kill animal shelter is part of Muscatine County's Return to Home challenge. The program encourages shelters to focus on returning pets to their owners before resorting to euthanasia.
“We’re looking to save more lives this way,” Koehler said.
Shelters involved in the challenge are utilizing several new strategies. These include using the Petco Love Lost database, waiving reclaim fees, equipping animal control officers with universal microchips, and offering heavily discounted microchip clinics.
Koehler said, “It’s not just about reuniting pets with their owners. Shelter environments are stressful, and it’s hard on a dog.”
As part of the challenge, participating shelters receive $1,000 grants. The top two shelters with the highest year-over-year increase in dog returns in September will also receive an additional $10,000, as will the two shelters with the most innovative return-to-home practices.
But the issue extends beyond dogs. Koehler said that while 26% of dogs aren’t going home, the situation for cats is even worse—nationally, less than 10% of cats are reunited with their families once they reach a shelter.
Rising costs may be contributing to the problem, with some owners unwilling or unable to pay reclaim fees or the cost of euthanasia. Shelter workers emphasize that one of the simplest steps pet owners can take to improve the chances of being reunited with a lost pet is to ensure their pet is wearing a collar with an up-to-date identification tag.
By implementing these new measures, shelters hope to reduce euthanasia rates and give more pets a chance to return home.