ADAMS COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM) – Animal surrenders are on the rise throughout the Commonwealth.

“We are overwhelmed,” said Lori Wetzel, a Vet Tech at the Adams County SPCA. “I mean, we get calls from all over the state wanting us to pull, you know, animals from them to help them out as well. And, you know, right now we’re full.”

Wetzel tells abc27 News animal shelters started seeing an increase in surrenders around the COVID-19 pandemic.

“A lot of people did get COVID pets,” Wetzel added. “People were home, so they got cats, dogs, or bunnies, whatever. And then when they started trickling back into the workforce, they either didn’t have time or, you know, right.”

Pa Courts Info Share released data, detailing animal abuse throughout Pennsylvania, since Libres Law went into effect in 2017. Dauphin and Lancaster counties were among the areas listed with the highest number of animal abuse cases reported.

“We want the public to know that we’re not here to clean up everyone’s messes,” said Wetzel. “I mean, we do the best we can.”

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If you need to surrender your animal, you should call your local animal shelter. Even though shelters are overwhelmed, officials will still do their best to help you out.

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