by Suzyn Barron, President of Warwick Valley Humane Society, Inc.
Did you know August 15, 2026 is International Homeless Animals Day? This day of recognition was created by the International Society for Animal Rights in 1992 to help raise awareness about the global pet overpopulation crisis and to promote spaying and neutering and shelter adoptions. In the past our organization organized candlelight vigils and held events as our participation. Although we cannot account for its effectiveness, we had the time and energy to do it. Nowadays, time is short as is our energy caring for all the shelter animals and their special needs. On the one hand, the new New York State regulations restrict the number of animals per room and per kennel, yet expect a shelter to service the needs of the community which do not equate. As a humane society, how do we turn away sick kittens or injured cats or abandoned pets? Or animals that have been subjected to neglect? We have always “made room” somehow, some way at the expense of staff labor and financially. The alternative is euthanasia which we reserve only for those beyond medical and behavioral intervention.
That said, we are nearing the breaking point. Every day we receive calls to surrender pets. From hamsters to cats to Cane Corsos. It is impossible to say yes to all. Then there are the abandoned pets of people who have been evicted or houses have been condemned leaving their animals behind. Or the person who shows up at the door no longer wanting to care for the pet or on the day they are moving and cannot take their pet or pets with them. And the unwanted dogs that are left unclaimed as strays. These are all true and frequent scenarios.
Shelter overcrowding is not a shelter caused problem but a community problem due to the lack of commitment and responsibility on the part of too many pet owners who do not spay and neuter their pets or the cats they are feeding outside, or when the going gets tough, they give up on the pet they bought, were gifted or adopted. Surrender prevention and adoption are the only ways out of this dire situation of pet homelessness.
As disheartening as it gets for those of us in animal welfare there are those times when something special happens to raise our spirits to take on another day.
On December 30, 2023, Oscar, a five year old tuxedo cat was brought to the shelter as a surrender due to a family situation. For 2 ½ years Oscar lived in a cage and more recently one of our Liz’s Luxury Condos” because he didn’t like being around other cats. He is a handsome, friendly male with litter box issues. His human sister, now 18 years old, has been searching for him, having not been told which shelter he was brought to. She finally found him on Petfinder! Their reunion was heartwarming with Oscar instantly recognizing her. And they lived happily ever after. “When you adopt a pet, you save two lives—the one you adopt and the one who takes its place.”– unknown
Pet of the Week:
Adoption applications are available at wvhumane.org or call 845-986-2473 for more
