CUYAHOGA COUNTY, Ohio — Animal shelters across the nation and Ohio have had fewer dogs get adopted and more dogs staying longer in their care.

Jen Huettich, with the Cuyahoga County Animal Shelter, explained what their situation looks like.

What You Need To Know

  • Overcrowding at animal shelters is a problem nationwide

  • The Cuyahoga County Animal Shelter has seen fewer adoptions and longer stays for dogs

  • Pandemic and increased cost of living are contributing factors

“We’re at about 82 for the end of August. We were at about 106 at the same time last year just for this month,” she said.

Huettich said dogs are staying in their shelter longer, likely because of the pandemic and the higher cost of living.

“Last year at this time, dogs’ length of stay was about three weeks. Currently, it’s about a month,” she said, and added that people can volunteer or foster a dog to ease overcrowding.  

“We are not in a position where we are euthanizing for space and actually in the eight years I’ve been here, we have never been in that position,” she said.

Huettich said she hopes shelters will be back to normal soon.

“There’s an ebb and flow in animal welfare, so you know I’m certainly hopeful and I think everyone is you know we’re in a rough patch, but then it will get better. It will, it always does.”