The Yadkin County Animal Shelter in Yadkinville, N.C. has experienced a lot of changes in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We have seen a very large decrease in intakes, so there has also been a dramatic decrease in adoptions because we don’t have animals to adopt,” said Jason Roels Sr., Shelter Director of the Yadkin County Animal Shelter.
As of April 24, the shelter had no animals up for adoption.
The shelter has also adhered to state guidelines by suspending all volunteer work as well as requiring appointments for services.
The Yadkin County Animal Shelter was first opened in 2005. Photo courtesy of Jason Roels Sr.
Roels explained that the shelter relies on their Facebook and social media pages to alert community members of lost and adoptable pets in the shelter.
“I believe since more people are at home, they are utilizing social media more than usual. So, it has had an impact on reuniting owners with lost pets faster, therefore less strays are being brought to the shelter,” Roels said.
The Yadkin County Animal Shelter is not the only shelter to experience this. According to NBC, many humane societies and shelters are experiencing record lows for adoptable animals.
While having no animals to adopt out is great, there are some worries for the future after people begin to go back to normal life.
“I am concerned that once things begin to return to some level of normalcy, shelters will begin to see an influx of owner surrenders and potential adopters because they were not thinking about life ‘after the pandemic’,” Roels said.
With unemployment rates reaching 22 million as of April 16, there is a large worry about people being able to provide happy, healthy homes for these animals being adopted and fostered.
Roels explained the importance of creating forever homes for these animals, rather than temporary ones, urging people “to not think about the here and now.”
The Yadkin County Animal Shelter provides adoption and foster services for stray animals that cannot be reunited with their previous owners.
The shelter also provides up to three spay or neuter procedures at no cost to Yadkin County residents that are financially eligible. Spay and neuter procedures help to control populations and prevent an influx of strays from being brought to the shelter.
The Yadkin County Animal Shelter houses 500 dogs and 800 cats on average per year.
