Animal shelter offers advice on how the community can help with overcrowding

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) -- The St. Joseph Animal Shelter is currently at full capacity, and has seen a rise in pets coming through the shelter over the years.

This has become an issue as the facility, located at 701 S.W. Lower Lake Road, is dealing with a limited amount of resources.

One of the main causes of the uptick in homeless animals has been due to people not getting pets spayed and neutered, according to a local senior animal care specialist.

"The biggest thing is, spay and neuter. There's a big lack of people being able to spay and neuter their pets. So, I would encourage people to find those resources," Aubrey Couch, Senior Animal Care Specialist, said. "If you're thinking about getting a puppy or kitten, make sure you have a plan for getting that pet spayed or neutered when it's age appropriate."

The cost to spay and neuter pets can vary, with some procedures costing over $500 depending on the facility and location, according to GoodRx. For those who may need financial assistance, there are some affordable options available for area residents that the animal shelter can help guide pet owners to.

"There are resources, there's lots of programs. We have programs that we can direct people to. There are some low-cost spay and neuter clinics that aren't far from St. Joe, so there's lots of options," Couch said. "But ultimately, we really need to hit the spay and neuter hard because there's too many pets. There are not enough homes for all of these animals."

For more information on these options, contact the St. Joseph Animal Shelter at 816-271-4877.