Max has had a hard year. The 8-ish-year-old mixed-breed dog was surrendered to the Cleveland Animal Protective League (APL) in April; his family said they were moving and could no longer care for him. And it turned out he had heartworm, a parasite that meant months of medicine and lots of lying around.
He’s healthy now, but he continues to wait for another chance at a life outside a cage. Along with hundreds of other dogs in Greater Cleveland shelters.
In September, Signal Cleveland reported on how shelters are coping with overcrowding, the result of a downward trend in adoptions since the boom sparked by the pandemic in 2020. The shelter administrators we talked to told us this week that the situation has not improved.
“This has been a challenging year as the number of abused, abandoned and neglected dogs unfortunately remains high,” said Bruce Campbell, manager of City Dogs, the City of Cleveland’s kennel.
Intake is steady at Cleveland APL too, said Sharon Harvey, president and CEO. “We still have dogs waiting a long time for adoption, so managing capacity continues to be a challenge,” she said.
Mindy Naticchioni, shelter administrator at Cuyahoga County Animal Shelter (CCAS) in Valley View, said adoptions are up slightly, but that’s typical around the holidays. “While I am hopeful for a better 2025, the trends do not suggest we have turned the page just yet, unfortunately,” she said.
Cue ‘In the Arms of an Angel’
Cleveland APL is offering two adoption promotions this month, waiving the fees for adult dogs and cats. One is underway now and continues through Dec. 8. The other is Dec. 20-22. (Bissell Pet Foundation and Ganley Auto Group are covering the costs.)
City Dogs will offer reduced fees Dec. 14-15.
If you can’t adopt but want to help, there are a few options.
Foster: Life in a kennel is stressful for dogs, and even short breaks can help. Fostering also provides opportunities to learn how a dog adapts to new situations, which can lead to more successful adoptions. CCAS, Cleveland APL and City Dogs all need fosters. Click the links to learn more.
Volunteer: Shelter dogs need all the attention they can get, and staff can only provide so much. In addition to walking and playing with dogs, shelters rely on volunteers to prepare and deliver their meals, keep up with laundry and organize events. To learn more about volunteering, click these links: Friends of City Dogs, CCAS, Cleveland APL.
Donate, sponsor or buy supplies from a wish list: Cleveland APL, CCAS, Friends of City Dogs (that link goes to the home page – use the “How to Help” dropdown menu).
Holiday-specific ways to help:
• Attend Friends of City Dogs’ Holiday Cheer Fundraiser Dec. 7, 6-9 p.m. at Forest City Brewery, 2135 Columbus Road, Cleveland (tickets available here).
• Support CCAS’ 12th Annual Santa Paws Fundraiser by visiting the shelter (9500 Sweet Valley Dr., Valley View) or buying raffle tickets online.
• Purchase Cleveland APL’s 2025 Pet Calendar, featuring the winners of a photo contest.
You can also help shelters by supporting Neighborhood Pets, a nonprofit based in Slavic Village that helps families who are struggling with the rising costs of pet ownership. According to the 2024 State of Shelter Pet Adoption Report from pet food company Hill’s, more than 90% of pet owners who were considering surrendering their pet kept it after receiving support.
Petey (above) has been at Cleveland APL for more than a year. “One of the biggest challenges with long-term dogs is helping people see beyond the length of stay,” said Ayse Dunlap, vice president of operations. “Many long-term residents are incredible pets, but they’re often overlooked because adopters assume something must be ‘wrong’ with them, which isn’t true.” You can read about Petey’s journey in this Facebook post.
