Overcrowding at the Milwaukee Area Domestic Animal Control Commission shelter, MADACC, is reaching a breaking point. “I have not seen us this full in over five years,” said shelter outcomes coordinator Kate Hartlund. “We are busting at the seams with animals.”Hartlund believes she knows what’s to blame for the surge in animals.”I think the economy is really doing something to it,” she told WISN-12 News. “It’s getting harder for people to care for and provide for their pets.”Many reports suggest that pet ownership soared during the pandemic, with millions of households adopting a dog or cat during COVID-19. But many now may be finding less time and money to spend on the animal, as household budgets tighten while prices for pet food and other pet needs rise. And Hartlund says, some people may be simply abandoning animals that had been household pets.”While these are all stray animals because we are a stray holding facility, it’s hard to imagine that any of them didn’t live in a home. They’ve all lived in a home at some point,” she said.MADACC is currently offering an adoption incentive program, waiving all charges and fees for the adoption of larger dogs over 40 pounds who are adoption-ready and could walk out of the shelter with a new family on the spot.Once a stray is brought into MADACC and deemed eligible for adoption, it stays that way until it’s adopted. The facility does not euthanize animals because of any time limit or lack of space. But right now, there is a serious lack of space.And so, MADACC is calling for help. It’s looking for donations of pet food, and for people to foster dogs and cats. Most of all, it’s seeking people to adopt a pet, as the shelter continues to be dealt a full house.”We are getting more and more animals in for adoption every single day. Intake does not seem to slow down,” said Hartlund. “But, unfortunately, adoptions have seemed to slow down.”
Overcrowding at the Milwaukee Area Domestic Animal Control Commission shelter, MADACC, is reaching a breaking point.
“I have not seen us this full in over five years,” said shelter outcomes coordinator Kate Hartlund. “We are busting at the seams with animals.”
Hartlund believes she knows what’s to blame for the surge in animals.
“I think the economy is really doing something to it,” she told WISN-12 News. “It’s getting harder for people to care for and provide for their pets.”
Many reports suggest that pet ownership soared during the pandemic, with millions of households adopting a dog or cat during COVID-19. But many now may be finding less time and money to spend on the animal, as household budgets tighten while prices for pet food and other pet needs rise. And Hartlund says, some people may be simply abandoning animals that had been household pets.
“While these are all stray animals because we are a stray holding facility, it’s hard to imagine that any of them didn’t live in a home. They’ve all lived in a home at some point,” she said.
MADACC is currently offering an adoption incentive program, waiving all charges and fees for the adoption of larger dogs over 40 pounds who are adoption-ready and could walk out of the shelter with a new family on the spot.
Once a stray is brought into MADACC and deemed eligible for adoption, it stays that way until it’s adopted. The facility does not euthanize animals because of any time limit or lack of space. But right now, there is a serious lack of space.
And so, MADACC is calling for help. It’s looking for donations of pet food, and for people to foster dogs and cats. Most of all, it’s seeking people to adopt a pet, as the shelter continues to be dealt a full house.
“We are getting more and more animals in for adoption every single day. Intake does not seem to slow down,” said Hartlund. “But, unfortunately, adoptions have seemed to slow down.”
