1 of 10

COMMUNITY PROBLEM:�LACK OF PET OWNER RESOURCES IN OUR COMMUNITY

PRESENTED BY: KATHARINA LOPEZ AND HANNAH HILDENBRAND

2 of 10

REASONS FOR SURRENDERS/INTAKES OF ANIMALS

  • Human reasons outweigh animal reasons for surrender by 3:1 

From the Best Friends organization:

  • 14.1% of dogs are surrendered due to housing issues (the top reason for canines)
  • 22.6% are surrendered due to the owner having too many animals (the top reason for cats)
  • 10.1% of animals surrendered due to owner’s death
  • 7.8% of animals are surrendered due to aggressive behavior
  • 7.2% are surrendered due to the owner’s financial situation�

​

Surrender

Stray

2021

1546

2859

2022

1742

3019

2023

1480

3271

3 of 10

MEDICAL CARE

  • Emergency vets are limited
  • High costs
  • Humane euthanasia less accessible

Pictured above is Ares: surrendered Nov. 14, 2023 because his family was moving and couldn’t afford medical treatments

4 of 10

BEHAVIOR/TRAINING SUPPORT

  • Expensive
  • Unrealistic expectations of animals
  • Young shelter population

Pictured above is Indigo: surrendered 02/09/2023 because he was “too much” for the family to handle

5 of 10

HOUSING RESOURCES

  • Pet fees and intense restrictions
  • Limited affordable housing
  • Inclusive breed housing rare
  • Emergency/crisis housing restrictions to animals

​

Pictured above is Diamond: surrendered 07/14/2023 because condo said she was too big

6 of 10

SURRENDERING TO SHELTER AS “ONLY OPTION”

  • Safe re-homing practices
  • Owner’s re-homing on their own
  • Public resources for owners to prevent surrender

Pictured above is Panda: surrendered 06/07/2023 when his family moved

7 of 10

FINANCIAL HARDSHIP

  • Pet pantries
  • Non-profits to help with costs

Belle – Surrendered 6/28/23 for lack of resources to provide long term care for her

8 of 10

SOLUTION:

PROVIDE COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND RESOURCES TO LOCAL PET OWNERS WITH THE GOAL OF KEEPING PETS WITH THEIR FAMILIES AND OUT OF ANIMAL SHELTERS

9 of 10

OUR COMMUNITY RESOURCE INITIATIVES

  • PET PANTRY
  • RESOURCE FOCUSED MANAGED INTAKE
  • RABIES/MICROCHIP CLINIC
  • DOG BEHAVIOR TRAINING SUPPORT
  • HOME-TO-HOME PLACEMENT PROGRAM
  • OPEN DOOR ADOPTIONS
  • LOW-COST ADOPTION OPPORTUNITIES
  • RESOURCES GUIDE AVAILABLE ON WEBSITE WWW.VBACAC.COM

​

10 of 10

THANK YOU!

  • QUESTIONS?

​

  • WWW.VBACAC.COM

​

  • 757-385-4444

​

​

​

“Kreature”