Animal shelter brimming with dogs, cats

NEW HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH) -- Workers at the New Haven Animal Shelter say they are overwhelmed by the sheer number of animals being left on their doorstep.

Twenty-eight dogs have been dropped off at New Haven's animal shelter in the past 11 days, bringing the grand total number of dogs in the shelter to 69. Add the 30 cats and you have one very overcrowded shelter.

"It is becoming very frustrating and people are just inconsiderate to their own animals and the staff at the shelter," said animal control officer Stephani Johnson.

The shelter now has more dogs than it has space.

"We just keep creating space out of the space that we don't have," Johnson said.

That means employees must share their office with the smaller dogs.

"It becomes frustrating to us because we're just burdened with more work," she said. "People don't understand the responsibility of taking care of a pet and they become overwhelmed and then they just leave them here. I mean, imagine how we feel when we're dealing with hundreds of animals."

Just this week alone, four dogs were left tied to the door, seven dogs left in the shelter's dog run and a box of kittens was left at the front door. Officer Johnson says she's extremely frustrated and that's what lead her to post the following request on the shelter's front door: "The shelter is full. Please do not leave your animals here. Call the Humane Societies. Do not leave your dog tied to this door."

"This is a plea letting them know we are full," she said.

Even though the sign was up, another dog walked in.

"A young girl brought her into Yale University Police Department this morning said that she was a stray," explained Sgt. Sabrina Wood, from the Yale University Police Department.

The New Haven Animal Shelter is urging folks to come to their pet adoption event on Saturday from 1-4 p.m. at the shelter located at 81 Fournier Street in New Haven.

For more information on adopting a pet in need of a home visit the Robin I Kroogman Animal Shelter website or call them at 203-946-8110.