Economy’s impact felt on pet ownership as animal shelters report fewer adoptions, more pets being turned over

More families are giving up their pets, often because they can no longer afford to keep them, leaders at animal shelters in northern Illinois counties said.Families facing higher costs for everyday necessities have less in their monthly budgets for pet food and veterinary care, said Dean Daubert, president of Anderson Humane in Kane County.“We are hearing from more people seeking to surrender their pets for financial reasons,” Daubert said.

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“These are often families who love their animals but are struggling to afford their care.”During the first 20 days of October, the Will County Humane Society received 17 owner relinquishment requests, in addition to calls the shelter receives, said Gwenn Sanfilippo, a member of the Humane Society’s board of directors.The number of surrenders for 2026 “has been higher the entire year than previous years,” she said. “Many of the reasons listed on the relinquishment forms are related to not having adequate finances, loss of their home and not enough tim