HOUSTON — Houston’s BARC animal shelter said Thursday it's being forced to euthanize more animals due to ongoing capacity issues.
More than 250 animals at the shelter are in need of a home.
"This is not the first time this year that we're having to tell the public we're starting the day off at capacity," said Cory Stottlemyer with BARC.
Stottlemyer said the shelter has been operating at its 300-animal capacity limit for months.
He said adoption and foster care numbers are at an all-time low.
"Because of the high cost of pet ownership right now, inflation impacts across the board people's decisions in whether adding a new family member or pet," Stottlemyer said.
By law, the shelter must accept any animal that comes through its doors. Stottlemyer said the lack of space and adoptions has forced them to put more animals down.
“We have no kennel room for the incoming animals. we have to make that ultimate hard decision," he said.
There's a measure on the November ballot aimed at helping the shelter with its ongoing capacity problem.
Proposition C proposes $47 million in bonds for animal care, including a new building for BARC.
'What we do know is that it would improve shelter capacity at BARC. We know that more funding would go to helping to get animals off our streets," said Houston PetSet Co-President Tena Lundquist Faust.
Lundquist-Faust said her agency is working collaboratively with shelters like BARC.
"It's not just for the animals it’s for the city of Houston this is a crisis it’s a public health and public safety issue," she said.
BARC is holding a Halloween special over the weekend with reduced adoption fees. The promotion runs from Friday through Sunday.