Illinois animal shelters are reporting an overwhelming number of surrendered pets this year.
Dean Daubert, chief operations officer at Anderson Humane in South Elgin, said the shelter has handled 3,000 more pets this year than it did in 2021.
Daubert said he does not buy the widely held belief that a lot of people were too quick to adopt pets during the pandemic and now they are giving them up.
“From what people tell us, the cost of keeping a pet and the refusal of landlords to accept pets are the chief reasons that so many pets are being surrendered,” Daubert told The Center Square.
He argues that it is difficult for pet owners to find new housing where pets are welcome.
Daubert would like to see legislation that gives pet owners leverage.
“Until there is legislation that prevents discrimination against people with pets and allows pet owners to have some rights, we will continue to see this,” he said.
When people have to give up their pets, it is often heartbreaking, Daubert said.
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