Dog Overflow: Bad Economy Means Trouble for the Animal Shelter

Amidst preparing for the Animal Shelter’s biggest fundraiser of the year, the annual this Sunday, Shelter Director Laura Selvaggio Burban is now scrambling to figure out what to do with an over abundance of dogs.

“We need the public support to come in and adopt these dogs,” said Burban.

The shelter’s 17 kennels are full and Administrative Assistant Katy Prete said, “I even have a dog under my desk.”

Eleven dogs, Prete continued, have been abandoned in the last three weeks and the economy, she said, is to blame. The most recent case was a black lab mix who . A reader posted the news to Branford Patch this week and is still waiting for someone to claim the dog.

The shelter, which serves Branford and North Branford, has reported that the dogs are coming from both towns evenly. Recently three pit bulls – the most common dogs at the shelter – were picked up off of Totoket Road in North Branford. Prete said they were named Simon, Garfunkle and Carly.

Though pit bulls seems to be the most frequently abandoned dog, reported the shelter, there are a variety of breeds in need of homes. Most of the dogs are vaccinated and ready to go home now. “The majority of the dogs,” said Burban, “are good dogs that are left behind by the economy. If people have the availability and are capable of taking on another dog, we’d really appreciate it.”

Elliot, pictured, will be attending Animal Awareness day tomorrow with the intent of finding his forever home. You can meet some of the other dogs in need of homes at the event or stop by the Animal Shelter to fill out an application for the pet you connect with. You can also follow the shelter on Facebook to keep up with news and adoption opportunities.