October was adopt a Shelter Dog Month but for animal shelters across Michigan, the need to open hearts and homes continues long after the calendar flip to November.

State data show Michigan shelters achieved a 94% live-release rate in recent years, meaning nearly all dogs and cats left alive but rescuers said they are still stretched thin and the need for more animal adoption is great.

Dianne Reeves, executive director of I Heart Dogs Rescue and Animal Haven in Warren, said the work is both rewarding and heartbreaking.

“We’re seeing kind of the worst-of-the-worst-case scenarios,” Reeves noted. “The abandoned, the neglected, the abused, and just overall the unwanted dogs mostly, but cats in our rescue as well.”

In Detroit, the live-release rate has dropped to about 65%, showing just how overcrowded shelters have become.

Reeves pointed out adoption rates, which surged during the pandemic, have now dropped to just 75% of their peak, leaving more dogs and cats without homes. She noted even people who love animals are hesitating these days, not because they do not care but because they are worried about making ends meet.

“Just a lot of the funding and job cuts and what not, has created uncertainty in consumers,” Reeves explained. “Therefore, people are thinking about whether or not they can properly care for a pet.”

For those who cannot afford to adopt, Reeves added fostering an animal is another option. It is free, flexible, and gives a homeless pet a safe place to live while awaiting a forever home. She added many homeless animals are being euthanized or turned away due to lack of space, and as winter approaches, shelters are bracing for a surge in animals needing care.

“I think a lot of people in rescue will tell you we’re heading into the difficult months trying to save these pets that are outside,” Reeves emphasized.