San Diego Humane Society declares state of emergency

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) -- The San Diego Humane Society is facing a state of emergency as facilities are maxed out by record numbers of dogs in care.

Those numbers are expected to triple as the summer months arrive.

Last year, the Humane Society had 540 dogs in their care every day.

“Today in 2024 we have 640 dogs per day in our animal shelters,” a spokesperson with the organization announced.

On top of that, the shelter's numbers can increase to 3,000 animal per day during the summer months.

"What we’re asking for today is the community’s help to get some of these animals into homes,” the spokesperson continued.

The Humane Society is offering and urgent plea as the number of dogs coming in is on track to reach catastrophic levels in the just a few months.

"“Our dogs are the issue right now. We are at 150 to 200% capacity for our dogs throughout this county," said the Humane Society.

Unwanted litters are the biggest reason they are receiving so many animals.

"In 6 years, two unaltered dogs, un-spayed and unneutered male and female and their offspring, can be responsible for over 60,000 K9s," another representative explained.

The Humane Society is urging people to spay and neuter their pets, and adopt from a shelter. For those who can't adopt, the shelter is asking the public to consider fostering.