TOLEDO, Ohio (WTVG) – Overcrowding is a problem crippling animal shelters across the country and here at home.
Despite countless asks for the public to adopt or foster dogs, the problem persists.
Local shelters 13 Action News spoke with said, there are just too many dogs.
The American Veterinary Medical Association reports, there were 89.7 million dogs in the U.S. as of last year. In 1996, there were 52.9 million.
Cassie Bloomfield, the community outreach coordinator at Lucas County Canine Care and Control said dogs come in every day.
“We are in crisis mode,” Bloomfield said.
Data from LC4 shows, the facility took in 4,776 dogs in 2024. 230 more than in 2023. That number is made up of mostly stray intakes.
“We are at the point where I don’t think we will be able to adopt ourselves out of this problem,” Bloomfield said.
In Bowling Green, the Wood County Dog Shelter is putting up big numbers as well. Chief Dog Warden Jodi Harding said the shelter took in 400 dogs last year, a number the shelter hasn’t seen since before the pandemic.
“It’s an overwhelming problem and unfortunately I don’t see it getting better anytime soon,” Harding said.
Those with the Fulton County Humane Society (FCHS) said they took in 258 dogs in 2024. The Director, Stephanie Moore, said the problem isn’t due to a lack of adopters, but excessive breeding and a lack of spaying an neutering.
“How are we being responsible when we’re breeding more dogs to add to that number?” Moore said.
Moore said FCHS is a non-profit that relies on the generosity of the community. The facility has started looking for corporate sponsors for support. So far, North Star Blue Scope and Anderzack-Pitzen Construction, Inc. are corporate sponsors.
Moore adds there’s a lack of regulation for breeding and puppy mills in the state, and the litters coming from these environments are unhealthy. In fact, Ohio is on the list for The Humane Society of the United States’ “The Horrible Hundred 2024″, a list of problem puppy mills and sellers.
“Stop adding to the problem,” Moore said. “Be part of the solution and advocate for these animals.”
Moore called on the governor and Ohio agencies to pay attention and offer more support to local shelters.
Bloomfield said the dog population saw a huge jump after the pandemic.
“We lost out on a significant amount of spay and neuter surgeries,” Bloomfield said. “That PPE that the vet would use to do a surgery for your dog, had to be used for humans.”
At LC4, Bloomfield said 1,169 surgeries were performed in 2024. She adds every adoptable dog is spayed and neutered.
The Big Fix is a program partnership between LC4 and Humane Ohio in Toledo. Bloomfield said if you get a dog license through LC4, you receive a voucher for a discounted spay and neuter surgery with Humane Ohio
Harding said she believes many people don’t know resources like Humane Ohio exist.
“We see a lot of people who, don’t want to get rid of their pets but they need help,” Harding said.
The Wood County Dog Shelter also works with Humane Ohio and the Wood County Humane Society.
Moore said euthanasia is the harsh reality for more and more dogs, with the pup population only growing.
“Every day, an amazing dog is going to be euthanized because there are too many, that is the bottom line,” Moore said.
Education on the topic will be crucial moving forward. See the links below to learn more or find resources available to you.
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