Thirteen people showed up at Minneapolis Animal Care and Control on Wednesday to give up their animals. At a time of year when the pound typically doesn't receive many, its skeleton staff is getting crushed by an unprecedented wave of surrenders that have pushed intake up 60% from the same time last year.
Just three animal care technicians — not including veterinarians and vet techs that cover the medical side of things — are caring for about 100 animals, seven days a week.
"We have never seen that before, so we're like, 'What is happening? What can we do?'" said volunteer coordinator Madison Weissenborn. "For the love of God please help us."
The city put out a call Wednesday for those interested in adopting or fostering any of the animals. All adoption fees are waived. The animals will be completely vaccinated, sterilized, micro-chipped and take-home-ready.
On Wednesday afternoon, the shelter's three wings were full of whimpering, wide-eyed dogs pawing at their kennel gates for attention. Pit mixes are the most common breed available. There were also a pair of cats.
Shelter supervisor Danielle Joerger moved down the cell block, dispensing treats and pets.
About a third of the animals housed at the shelter are protective custody legal cases. The city shelter deals with neglect and cruelty rescues, including dogfighting survivors, as well as dogs that have bitten people and must be kept in quarantine for observation, Joerger said. Another third were surrendered, with owners frequently citing housing issues.
Many are strays. There's the lithe 1-year-old German shepherd, Shrek, who came in unneutered but adept at shaking paws on command. And Beullah, a 3-year-old deaf American bulldog. An elderly tan and white pit mix named Carmela was just displaced after a house fire earlier this week. Staff members don't know where her owners are, but they hope next of kin will claim her soon. Then there's Macaroni Bob, a handsome 1-year-old tuxedo pit mix who was picked up off the street in tow with another dog named Jenny Penne — so called because the staff were really hungry at intake that day.
