CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – When you think about rising costs, you probably think of gas, utility, or grocery prices going up.
But for Lonnie Viner, the first thing on her mind is how expensive it’s become to own a pet.
And as the Executive Director of the Cedar Valley Humane Society, she’s felt the impact firsthand.
“Lower income, middle income folks are struggling so hard right now. They’re just taking care of themselves and their families, and unfortunately that sometimes means that their pets have to find another home.” said Viner.
Despite adopting out over a hundred animals in August, Viner says the shelter has been at capacity for 9 months, largely due to a high number of owner surrenders.
But after taking in 22 animals from a hoarding case on Monday, the need for adopters is even higher.
In an effort to encourage more people to adopt, Viner and her staff have lowered the cost of adoption fees… but it’s a temporary solution at best.
“It’s a huge impact on us because we’re a nonprofit… And we spay, neuter, microchip, and vaccinate every animal that comes through our doors, so that’s a big expense.” Viner said.
But even with reduced fees, one pet owner I spoke with says it might not be enough to encourage people to adopt.
“It costs about six to seven hundred dollars a year per dog. And so if anything goes wrong, you know, that price goes up exponentially, but even just for the routine care, you know, it’s it’s quite expensive.” said Breanne Reynolds, a Cedar Rapids dog owner.
But until more adopters come forward, Viner says her and her staff are making do as best they can to provide for every animal that walks through the door.
For those interested in donating or adopting, more information can be found on the Cedar Valley Humane Society website.
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