Hundreds of homeless animals, mainly litters of puppies, were dropped off at the Central Missouri Humane Society last week, forcing staff to euthanize older animals to make room.

The shelter took in 151 puppies, kittens and adult pets last week and is expecting 20 more puppies to arrive by this afternoon. That’s 100 more animals than the shelter took in at this time last year.

"We’ve been shocked by this amount of intake," shelter Executive Director Patty Forister said. "I can’t believe there are this many homeless pets right before Christmas. We don’t know why it’s increased so much over last year, but it’s having a huge impact on the shelter. They just keep coming, and we’re having to euthanize to make room for the animals."

The humane society averages 173 pets a week, mainly because of litters dropped off during the spring and summer. Forister isn’t sure what caused this winter’s spike in newborn puppies.

Adding to the strain are the shelter’s 20 foster families, who already are either caring for animals or are out of town for the holidays.

Community members can help by donating supplies such as bleach, chew toys and cat litter, but adopting one of the animals isn’t a good idea without serious consideration.

"Animals are wonderful, and they add a lot to our lives, but it’s never a good idea on impulse," Forister said.

To minimize further stress on the shelter, parents are urged to refrain from buying puppies as last-minute Christmas gifts for their children, Heather Duren-Stubbs, shelter relations coordinator, said in a news release.

If children ask for a pet, Duren-Stubbs recommended attaching a shelter gift certificate to a stuffed animal or collar instead. That way the child can be involved in adopting the animal and learning how to take care of it.

"We look to deter people from adopting or buying an animal this time of year unless they are responsible families making a decision to add an animal to the family, versus having a one-time wish come true under the Christmas tree that will wear off," Forister said.

The best solution to the shelter’s crowding situation is for pet owners to spay and neuter their animals, she said.

The shelter offers a low-income, low-cost spay-and-neuter program all year to prevent unwanted litters.

Dogs and puppies can be spayed or neutered for $60 each, female cats and kittens for $30, and male cats for $20.

"Every litter matters, when it comes to us taking in 170 animals," Forister said. "The answer is spaying and neutering. It’s easier to prevent six puppies from being born than it is having to adopt out six puppies."

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