Animal rescues across South Dakota are seeing a drop in adoptions this summer compared to previous years.
Almost Home Canine Rescue helps cats and dogs across South Dakota. Their network of foster homes lets them serve areas that don’t have local rescues.
This litter of 6-week-old puppies is staying at a Harrisburg foster home. These homes are getting more crowded.
“It seems less that we're seeing more like less intake because we're also seeing less adoptions," said Taylor Wingert, the rescue's cat manager and supply coordinator. "Right now adoptions really have slowed down in the last few months compared to the years that we've seen prior and the less adoptions.”
That means the rescue can take in fewer pets.
Alyssa Donat, a volunteer coordinator for Almost Home Canine Rescue, said there are plenty of benefits to choosing to adopt from a shelter over a breeder.
"You don't have to worry about them getting spayed neutered, they have their first round of shots, they are checked out by a vet prior to coming to your home. So we know that we have been taking the best care of them and giving them the best food that we can before we give them to you guys."
The rescue brings in new animals every week from the Cheyenne River reservation with help from volunteers.
“Every Friday typically we do transport where we have a volunteer driver go out to the reservation, Cheyenne River, Chamberlain area and pick up the dogs," said Donat. "We work closely with rescue network to determine how and who is going to take these dogs in and cats.”
Even if people can’t adopt, they can still help local rescues by fostering or volunteering.
“Applying to be a foster is one way that you can save not just one animal at a time, but a lot of them, because they come every week,” said Donat.
For more information and to see available pets, visit almosthomecaninerescue.com.