When the COVID-19 pandemic hit and many people began working from home, animal shelters around the country noticed an uptick in dog and cat adoptions.
Now that folks have returned to the workplace and inflation is taking its toll on our pocketbooks, the trend is reversing.
For example, KTHV-11 in Little Rock reported last week that shelters across Arkansas are seeing increasing numbers of pets being surrendered. So much so shelters in several cities, including Little Rock, Hot Springs and Sherwood are having a hard time accommodating them all.
Shelter officials say people are finding it hard to properly feed and provide veterinary care for pets with so many increased demands on their paychecks.
It's a sad situation. Giving an animal a home is -- or should be -- a longterm commitment, both emotional and financial. We have to believe these dog and cat owners are desperate and think they have no other choice but to return their pets to a shelter. At least we hope none are so callous as to see their pets as disposable.
If you can adopt a shelter animal, now would be a good time to do so. They need homes. They need care. They need love.
But be sure you are in a stable position and can handle the responsibilities. Because when you bring a dog or cat into your life, you are all they have in the world.