Author: 
Gloria Lissner
Category: 

Preventing Surrenders

Today I found myself deep in thought after reading a report that confirmed what many of us in rescue already feel in our bones: the United States has the highest number of animals surrendered to shelters in the world. We’re talking about millions – over 6 million cats and dogs entering shelters across the country each year. It’s staggering, heartbreaking, and frankly, exhausting.

I couldn’t help but wonder – why? Why are so many animals ending up in US shelters, and what could we be doing differently?

So, I looked north to our neighbors in Canada. Their numbers? Nowhere near ours. For example, Toronto Animal Services reports just a few thousand owner surrenders annually – 1,600 to 3,600 depending on the year. That’s just one city, sure, but it reflects a pattern echoed across the country. Canada’s intake numbers are dramatically lower, both in total volume and per capita.

And it made me think – what are they doing differently?

I don’t believe for a second that Canadians love their animals more than Americans do. We’re a nation of animal lovers. But I do think systems and attitudes play a big role. In Canada, there’s a stronger social safety net that can catch both people and their animals when times get tough. There’s also more public housing that allows pets, more funding for community-based spay/neuter programs, and often, better regulation of breeders. While not perfect, Canada appears to prioritize prevention in ways the US is still catching up on.

It’s humbling to reflect on, especially from the trenches of rescue work here. We spend so much of our time reacting – to abandonment, to neglect, to overcrowding. But what if we shifted, even a little, toward prevention?

That’s why Famous Fido Rescue created the Intervention Program – because we know many surrenders are preventable with the right support at the right time. Whether it’s helping with a pet deposit for housing, covering a portion of an unexpected vet bill, offering behavioral advice, or simply taking the time to listen without judgment, we’ve seen firsthand how a little help can mean the difference between a family staying together or a pet ending up in a shelter.

But we can’t do it alone.

Our Intervention Program relies entirely on donations – and the need is overwhelming. Every day, we get calls from people at a breaking point. People who don’t want to give up their animals but feel they have no other choice. With more support, we can step in sooner. We can be the safety net that keeps more animals out of shelters and in the arms of the people who love them.

We may not be able to fix the system overnight, but we can start by questioning it. By looking beyond our borders and asking, “What’s working elsewhere?” and “How can we bring it here?”

Let’s stop accepting surrender as the default solution and start fighting for prevention as the priority. Because every saved bond between a guardian and their animal is one less broken heart in the shelter system.

And that’s a future worth investing in.

When a guardian tells us they absolutely cannot keep their animal, we do everything we can to help rehome them directly rather than bring them into the shelter. This approach minimizes stress for the animal and allows for a smoother transition into a new, loving home. Our Rehoming Program Fundraiser ensures each animal receives necessary veterinary care – including spay/neuter and vaccinations – before being adopted. Your support for this program keeps animals safe, healthy, and out of shelters.