By August Barham

April 1, 2020

 

Western North Carolina animal shelters are relying on the help of residents to support the animals and avoid a possible increase in shelter populations and euthanasia after COVID-19.

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Due to concerns surrounding the pet-to-owner transmission of COVID-19 and availability of spay and neuter operations, animal welfare professionals are bracing for an increase in owner surrenders. Because of limited space and resources at shelters, an increase in owner surrenders means an increase in euthanasia. While most shelters in the area are currently reporting average-to-low owner surrender rates, they don’t expect this to last. 

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“As people don’t have jobs and things aren’t open, we expect it’s going to change, and more people are going to surrender or abandon their pets,” said Eva Cruz-Shultz, a staff member at the Western North Carolina chapter of Heart of Appalachia Animal Rescue.

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To preemptively curb future owner surrenders and avoid overcrowding, shelters such as Transylvania County Animal Services, Brother Wolf Animal Rescue and Heart of Appalachia are distributing free pet care essentials to owners struggling financially. 

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“Animal shelters are really going to focus on keeping animals with their families.” Said Leah Fieser, Executive Director at Brother Wolf, “If we can get them food, and that means they can keep that animal, that is what we want to do.” 

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Most of the supplies offered by shelters and rescues are provided through individual donations and community support.

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“If people care about helping animals through this crisis, then one of the best things that they can do is foster, adopt or donate to their local shelter,” Fieser said. 

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Shelters are also seeking monetary contributions to support the animals already under their care. Independent rescues and shelters are primarily funded by individual donations, which are expected to drop. 

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“Cash donations to shelters are really important because cash gives shelters the flexibility to use the money for the most critical need at that moment,” Fieser said. 

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As fears that COVID-19 is transmissible from animals to humans is expected to cause an increase in owner surrenders, shelters are also pushing their foster programs. Heart of Appalachia Animal Rescue has already had some cats surrendered due to this fear, according to frequent foster parent, Amber Grey. 

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Despite these concerns, The American Veterinary Medical Association has said that while it appears animals can contract the virus, there is no evidence that they can transmit it. Animal care professionals are more concerned about owners passing the illness to their pets than the other way around.

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“If you are sick and you have Coronavirus, it is probably not the time to be kissy face with your little dogs and your cat,” said Mark Thompson, Brevard Animal Hospital veterinarian.

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However, because concerns surrounding the animal-to-human transmission of COVID-19 are still expected to cause an increase in owner surrenders, shelters are relying on their foster programs to avoid overcrowding and euthanasia.

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“Our foster program is helping us weather the whole crisis.” Said Fred Strohm, administrator at Sarge's Animal Rescue Foundation, “It's allowing us to not have as many animals onsite, lessening the burden on the staff and still allowing us to help the homeless animals of Haywood County.”  

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For those who are unable to donate, shelters and rescues recommend they foster, as most programs cover all of the animal’s expenses. Shelters say since people are home with more time on their hands and in need of a distraction, now is the perfect time to foster.

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“If you have a lot of time to be at home right now, then that might be a great thing to do.” Fieser said, “It could be really fun to bring a new dog or a new cat into your family right now.”

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Shelters also recommend fostering for people who live alone and are looking for companionship during the quarantine. Barry Markovsky, a sociology professor at the University of South Carolina, has started fostering for the first time during COVID-19. He lives alone and has enjoyed the added company of Smokey, his foster cat. 

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“Just knowing that I am taking care of someone other than myself has been a real change, and it is a nice feeling,” Markovsky said. 

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Markovsky has been considering adopting a pet but was unable to do so until now. 

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“Now that we are stuck indoors and I happen to be retiring, coincidentally, I thought it was time to at least try it out, and fostering is a perfect way to do that,” Markovsky said. 

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Markovsky says Smokey was immediately comfortable with him, and in their short time together, has already become more playful. Markovsky encourages others to foster during this time.

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“Especially with a cat, it really could not be easier, and if you are thinking about it, it’s worth giving it a try,” Markovsky said. 

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Though Markovsky has decided to foster to see if his retirement situation will be conducive to pet ownership, he also appreciates the importance of fostering and is considering continuing to do so in the future. 

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“I am thinking about myself, but I am also thinking about the bigger picture of treating our animals better and maybe becoming a part of that in my retirement as well,” Markovsky said. 

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Shelters are already seeing an increased interest in fostering. The number of foster parents at Brother Wolf has nearly doubled since quarantine, Grey said. 

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“I think when any crisis situation hits, people who are ok right now want to help people or animals who might not be,” said Cruz-Shultz.

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While donations and fostering are helping to keep shelter populations low, shelters are preparing for a boom of unwanted pets due to a decrease in spay and neuter operations. Primarily because of limited medical supplies, most organizations are decreasing or temporarily closing spay and neuter programs.

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Spay and neuter operations use some of the same surgical supplies that human health care professionals currently require. This includes medications doctors need to keep people anesthetized while they have a ventilator intubated, according to Thomas. 

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“We are trying to do our part to make sure the doctors on the front lines and the hospitals have masks and gloves and the medication they need,” Thompson said. 

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The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Spay/Neuter Alliance, the top spay and neuter center in Western North Carolina, according to Thompson, has temporarily closed and recommended shelters adopt out unaltered pets. 

“I am really hoping they get opened soon because I am a little concerned about what happens when nothing is being spayed and neutered by the largest spay and neuter facility in the entire region,” said Thompson. “We then have an explosion in the population of unwanted pets.” 

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Animal care professionals are unsure of what the future looks like for animals in Western North Carolina during COVID-19 but continue to rely on the support of citizens to protect animals in the community.

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“There is no rule book for this, we are just riding as we go and doing the best we can,” said Fieser.

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