A surge in unclaimed lost pets is overwhelming Metro Detroit animal shelters.

The staff and volunteers at Grosse Pointe Animal Adoption Society work hard to reunite lost pets with suitable owners.

However, this effort was extremely difficult.

Evacuation centers have been full for weeks. Corinne Martin, executive director of GPAAS, said the facility has taken in lost cats and dogs, but finding homes to adopt the animals has proven difficult.

“We're overwhelmed with stray animals, lost cats and dogs,” Martin said. “It's the same as most shelters in the area.”

of Grosse Pointe The Animal Adoption Society's current capacity is 37 animals. Martin believes a variety of factors can prevent pet owners from adopting their animals.

The shelter primarily accepts found, stray, or surrendered animals from the Harper Woods and Grosse Pointe areas. However, animals sometimes come from parts of Detroit's east side and other surrounding areas.

“It's not easy anymore,” Martin said. “We don't know why, but to be honest, nine out of 10 animals that are brought in don't make it back to their owners. We know they had owners. We don't know how to find them. yeah.”

Staff at the Grosse Pointe Animal Adoption Society said they are working proactively. They frequently post photos on social media sites and appeal for help reuniting people with their pets.

Martin said: “We don't know why we haven't gotten a response. We try everything we can. We feel that perhaps there is a time when people can no longer care for their pets. They're not responding. They're choosing not to respond. There are so many variables.”

Defenders of GPAAS said they will not and will not give up. Instead, they are focusing on raising awareness, educating the community about measures like microchipping, and encouraging people to consider volunteering at shelters if possible.

“What makes community shelters work is community participation,” Martin said.

For now, the focus remains on adopting many pets and finding them suitable forever homes.

Grosse Pointe Animal Adoption Society will be holding an open house on Saturday, April 6th from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at 20542 Harper Avenue in Harper Woods.

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