If you’ve been thinking of adopting a new pet into your home, now’s a good time. The dog and cat populations at animal shelters across Michigan are at or near capacity. It’s an ongoing issue and locally, the same is true for the Humane Society of Southwestern Michigan.

“We are at capacity for both dogs and cats at the present time, just like all the other shelters throughout the state. The more I can adopt out to good homes with an approved application, then that means I can pull from other shelters to kind of help alleviate them.”

Robin Lydic, Director of Animal Care at the shelter says the Human Society is a network that helps other shelters when they are at capacity. Just last week she took in 11 dogs from a shelter in Texas that were already fostered and are ready for adoption. She says shelter overpopulation is a problem because of a perfect storm of rising costs in pet care, higher fees for keeping pets in a rental property, and food.

“It’s inflation with the cost of pet foods. Even a 20-pound bag of pet food is over 45 dollars.”

Lydic says the Humane Society works with Meals on Wheels to help deliver pet food to households that need it. For the month of March, you can adopt a dog or cat for just $17. Lydic says the animal must be 1 year old or older, and you must provide a loving home. You can find more information by clicking here to visit their website.