OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Animal shelters nationwide are seeing a decrease in adoptions, and the Oshkosh Area Humane Society (OAHS) is no exception.
Dog Team Manager Jennifer Ollanketo said in a news release that adoptions of dogs at OAHS are down about 45% compared to the numbers from June and July 2022.
Ollanketo said many factors are contributing to the influx of animals coming into shelters and waiting longer to be adopted.
“We’re seeing an increase of stray dogs not being redeemed by their owners, inflation has affected the cost of everything animal-related, there’s a nationwide veterinary shortage, and we’ve seen an unprecedented number of animals from evictions, homelessness, abandonments, etc.,” Ollanketo said. “Affordable pet-friendly housing is also proving very difficult to come by as we’ve received many surrender requests from people who are moving and they can’t find a place that will allow them to have their animal. It’s a really difficult time for many people and animals.”
To help combat the stress and frustration behaviors that living in a shelter environment can create in dogs, OAHS is launching ‘Canine Crusaders’ — a new program to increase adoptability.
Volunteer ‘crusaders’ will be assigned to a specific dog and trained on how to work with the animal to reduce or eliminate negative behavior issues and magnify positive ones.
OAHS President Ieva Engel acknowledged that while the Canine Crusaders initiative will require a significant investment of time, the result will be worth it. “A volunteer will be that dog’s biggest advocate and spokesperson so they can find their new family faster, be more engaged, and less stressed while waiting for adoption.”
Anyone interested in learning more about the Canine Crusaders program is asked to send their contact information to info@oahs.org.
Click here for a full list of the more than 35 dogs currently available for adoption at the Oshkosh Area Humane Society.
