GLOUCESTER TWP. — An adoption center here is begging community members to consider fostering or adopting, fearing its overcrowded conditions could lead to euthanasia.
Homeward Bound Pet Adoption Center is an open-admission shelter, meaning they must take in homeless animals within Camden County municipalities.
Now, the shelter has more dogs than kennels, said Director Ken Sieranski.
They are also overcapacity for cats.
The shelter shared via Facebook that this is the most overcrowded it has ever been with dogs.
"Dogs continue to pour in," the post read, "and we must continue to create space for lost and homeless dogs in need."
The post also shared that seven long-term residents in the shelter's care have been timestamped for euthanasia on July 24.
"[Euthanasia is] our worst nightmare," Sieranski said.
During the week of July 14, the shelter waived its adoption fees for dogs in an effort to remedy the overcrowding.
On July 16-17, Homeward Bound was able to move 32 dogs into fosters or "furever" homes.
Sieranski said the response was "great so far," but the shelter is "still not out of the woods."
The shelter also shared on July 17 that it would run a weekend special on cat adoptions, making the fee just $5 for all cats, excluding kittens.
The center faced a similar capacity scare last year after a 20 percent increase in intake from 2022 to 2023. The center made it through the year with a 94.5 percent live-release rate.
"It really is a national problem that gets worse in the summer," Sieranski said, mentioning that "kitten season" causes upticks in feline intake.
Despite best efforts to create a good environment, a shelter "is not a natural or normal place for an animal to be," Sieranski explained.
He said animals often end up in shelters because families are struggling economically, "having to make these really difficult decisions on, 'Do I feed my children, or do I feed my pet?'"
About twice monthly, the center operates a pet food pantry for pets in need. It also has a low-cost clinic.
Though Sieranski explained that the center tries everything in its power to keep animals with their owners, he addressed that there are not enough programs available to tackle the overpopulation issue in shelters.
How to help shelter animals
If you're not looking to adopt, Sieranski said fostering can be a rewarding experience without the financial strain. It's a "happy medium," he said.
Fostering can be short- or long-term, and it helps free up kennel space for the consistent but "unpredictable" influx of homeless pets into the shelter. Homeward Bound provides all the resources necessary while the fosters provide a place for the animal to stay.
Even short-term fostering can save a life, he said.
Of course, there are other ways to aid in the shelter's mission.
Homeward Bound is always looking for volunteers to tackle jobs like dog walking, laundry and spending time in the cat room. And donations are always needed.
The "kindest thing," Sieranski said, is to find a way to get animals out of the shelter.
Kaitlyn McCormick writes about trending issues and community news across South Jersey for the Courier-Post, The Daily Journal and the Burlington County Times. If you have a story she should tell, email her at kmccormick@gannett.com. And subscribe to stay up to date on the news you need.
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