Dog kennels at the Aurora Animal Shelter are at capacity. They are currently evaluating space on a case-by-case basis, but most surrendered dogs are being waitlisted. The lack of space could be made worse as some people rehome gifted pets received during the holiday season.
“We can’t always help them right away. We’re very full,” said Katrina Winograd, the Community Engagement Coordinator. “We just had a couple of kennels open up, so just today, we started working on the declined owner surrender waitlist.”
When the Aurora Animal Shelter was built in 1983, it served a population of about 174,000 people. Today, that facility serves a city of around 400,000, and with more people came more animals.
The city plans to build a larger facility . Having space for stray dogs is about public safety. Surrendered pets don’t get priority.
“We have to anticipate animals coming in who are ownerless or come in as a stray, and they need a kennel right away, so they don’t end up back on the street,” Winograd explained.