‘At risk’ pets unable to find home to be euthanized Friday

EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) – Nearly a dozen pets at the El Paso Animal Services Center will be euthanized at 3 p.m. Friday, Jan. 19 if they are unable to find a new home.

These pets are part of the animal services’ “at risk” list, which includes pets who are having medical and behavioral decline as a result of being in a shelter environment.

“In an effort to be transparent with our community, we have begun to release this “at risk” list to try and find lifesaving outcomes for the pets that are on this list. Once they are added to the “at risk” list, the majority of these pets, we have already exhausted all of the lifesaving outcomes that we have tried,” said marketing and public engagement manager for El Paso Animal Services Michele Anderson.

Pets who are added to the list have a deadline of two weeks to be adopted, fostered or rescued; but the deadline is subject to change if the animal’s health is severely deteriorating.

The pressure to find these pets a new home has mounted as animal services and their rescue partners are currently facing challenges to accommodate a high demand of animals coming into their shelters.

“Just within the last week alone, we’ve had almost 300 dogs enter the shelter and that’s why we’re facing these capacity challenges. We’re having that many dogs coming into our shelter and unfortunately not the same amount is leaving,” explained Anderson.

All pets on the “at risk” list are available for immediate adoption or foster. Their adoptions are free and include the pet spay neuter, microchip, age-appropriate vaccinations and city license.

For more information regarding the “at risk” pets, Anderson suggests following their social media accounts or to email them at EPASatrisk@elpasotexas.gov.

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