Adopting a pet was a lifesaver for many people isolated during the pandemic. Two years later, many animal shelters, including those in Albuquerque, face crisis-level intakes with decreased adoptions.

Carolyn Ortega, director of animal welfare for the Albuquerque Animal Welfare Department, said despite a Black Friday event, which saw 157 of 900 animals adopted, about 55 new animals are surrendered each day, making it difficult to keep up.

The problem started with the pandemic, according to Ortega, when almost three million neuter/spay surgeries were not performed.

"Which basically caused a domino effect," Ortega explained. "Resulting in multiple litters being born in 2020 and 2021, so we're seeing the results of that."

She noted some animals have been at the Albuquerque shelter for six months to a year, which can cause them to develop emotional or behavioral problems.

Research shows 75% of people surrendering animals are not doing so because of a behavioral issue or because they do not want the pet. Ortega stressed right now, a downturn in the economy is a contributing factor because many are downsizing from homes to apartments.

"Some of the larger dogs are being brought in because they don't have the yard space anymore that they had with the home," Ortega pointed out. "Or the apartment that they're moving into has such a high deposit for anyone who's bringing in an animal."

The Albuquerque animal shelters will participate in a "Holiday Happiness" adoption event this weekend, Friday through Sunday. Ortega added adoption fees, vaccinations, microchipping and spay/neuter services will all be free.

"They get a first dog training, and then their first vet visit is paid for as well," Ortega emphasized. "It's covered through the adoption, so it's almost like we're paying you to take a pet and all we're asking is that you give them a loving home."

The Albuquerque shelter is defined as no-kill, meaning 90% of the animals are adopted, leaving about 10% subject to euthanization.

May is National Pet Month, and South Dakota residents considering adoption are urged to do careful planning - while also making sure dogs can handle public settings if they tag along.

The messaging comes amid a recent trend where more pet owners feel comfortable in bringing their dogs to places such as restaurants.

That's brought attention to laws around the country dealing with such activity, and the Food and Drug Administration recently stated that pet dogs are fine in outdoor dining spaces.

Madison Godschalk, public relations and special event coordinator of the Sioux Falls Area Humane Society, said it's a good thing some businesses are now welcoming canines - but she added that pet owners have to take on responsibility.

"If you do get a younger animal, you're going to have to put in so many hours to train it," said Godschalk, "not to go on the bathroom inside, not to be aggressive towards food, not to be aggressive towards people."

Meanwhile, Godschalk said it's important to plan out which type of animal is best suited for your lifestyle and home setting. That includes whether they're allowed by a landlord if you're renting.

She said the Humane Society also offers guidance on how to introduce a new dog to another one that's already part of the household.

Godschalk said budgeting for a pet is another part of the process. It goes beyond making sure they have enough food.

"We make sure all of our animals, before they go off the door," said Godschalk, "are up to date on their vaccines, flea treatments, things like that. Those are all things that if you didn't adopt from us you would have to spend your own personal money on."

Godschalk said her location currently has a lot of pets available for adoption, especially dogs. She said there's enough variety to match a potential pet with an owner based on lifestyle, whether you like to go on adventures, or prefer to hang out around the house.




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A Wisconsin court case involving charges against animal rights activists remains in play.

Ahead of trial proceedings, various groups are calling attention to their claims of the mistreatment of dogs at a Dane County research facility. Three individuals face trial this fall over felony burglary and theft charges stemming from activity in 2017.

The animal rights group Direct Action Everywhere said the defendants rescued three beagles from Ridglan Farms near Madison. It asserted the trio was able to document filthy conditions and psychological trauma felt by the dogs, noting they were confined to small cages.

Wayne Hsiung, co-founder of the group, said the animals are bred for inhumane testing.

"After sometimes months or years of confinement that drives many of them to insanity, they're subjected to experiments that are so nightmarish that they're hard for people to believe are true," Hsiung contended. "I wouldn't believe they were true if I hadn't seen documentary evidence that these things were happening."

For example, the group claimed dogs are force-fed toxic compounds, including laundry detergents.

The facility did not reply to a request for comment. On its website, Ridglan Farms said it is committed to the highest standards of health while touting credentials from the Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care. The Dane County district attorney declined to comment.

The Wisconsin-based organization Alliance for Animals is among those raising awareness about the issue.

Mary Telfer, the group's board president, said allies are not trying to diminish any need to advance scientific solutions, but argued such research is unnecessary.

"There are modern approaches that can test faster and more precisely than the outdated animal models," Telfer emphasized. "There are organs on chips and computer simulations and things that are so much better than this horrific suffering."

Jeffrey Brown, another Alliance for Animals board member, said while the public may not have direct interactions with species typically used for testing -- such as primates -- many people do have deep connections with dogs. He hopes it convinces them to pay closer attention.

"They're gonna think, 'There's no difference between the beagles that are in this lab and the dog that's right here. And I would never in my life would ever think about harming my own animal; why do I allow this to take place with just a different dog?'" Brown explained.

April is Prevent Lyme disease in Dogs Month, and animal health experts are getting the word out about tick borne diseases in pets.

Over the past two decades, the number of cases of Lyme disease in humans has been on the rise, and a corresponding increase has been seen among dogs.

Maryland is among the states with the highest incidence of Lyme in the nation. While Lyme is perhaps the most well-known tick borne pathogen, there are a number of other threats to animals including Anaplasma and Ehrlichia.

Dr. Elizabeth Hepner, president of the Maryland Veterinary Medical Association, said when it comes to Lyme we cannot rely on symptoms alone.

"Some pets can be infected and not show any signs of disease," Hepner explained. "Some pets can have kind of nondescript clinical signs including lethargy or a fever, maybe a little bit of a decreased appetite, in other pets we can see shifting leg lameness and pain in their joints."

She pointed out only 5% to 10% of dogs show symptoms of Lyme, and it is important to have dogs tested for tick borne pathogens yearly. The 4Dx test used to screen for heartworm includes testing for Lyme along with Anaplasma and Ehrlichia.

While not available in humans at this point, dogs can be vaccinated against Lyme. Hepner noted the Lyme vaccine is administered by a vet then boosted after a few weeks and is good for one year, though she emphasized it is not a substitute for prevention.

"When I talk to my clients about the Lyme vaccine, I stress that prevention with your ideally oral flea and tick prevention is the best way to prevent Lyme disease," Hepner noted. "But the vaccine does add another layer of protection."

Hepner added prevention is key, and while it is important to do annual testing, she stated year round vigilance is now required.

"Very important to keep all pets on year-round flea tick and also heartworm prevention," Hepner advised. "Also, if you live in a high tick area, definitely recommend doing tick checks on your pet after you guys go outside just another layer of protection to prevent parasitism."


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