SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) — Animal shelters in Central New York often see an uptick in surrenders after the holidays.
As families confront the real cost and responsibility of pet ownership, the pets are left to deal with the aftermath. For people who have adopted rescues, that surge is more than a statistic. It is a deeply personal experience.
“When you adopt a dog it’s their forever home and they’re gonna look at it that way,” Richard Bufano said.
Bufano and his wife have rescued seven dogs so far. He says many rescue dogs come from unstable situations and that repeated surrender can harm their ability to trust again.
“Dogs have feelings just like us,” Bufano said. “They take a while for them to trust you. But once you have that trust, they’re the most loyal dog you’re ever gonna find.”
For some owners, the problem begins before a dog ever reaches a shelter. Volunteer and rescue owner Sarah Barrows said many families do not fully understand what caring for a dog truly means.
“People just don’t understand what they’re getting into so instead of taking the time to do that they just give them up,” she said.
Post holiday pet surrenders transcript
Desiree Robinson: After the holidays, not every dog gets to stay home. The spike in animal surrenders is all too common come the new year.
Robinson: For people who have adopted rescues, that surge is more than a statistic. It is personal.
Richard Bufano: When you adopt a dog it’s their forever home and they’re gonna look at it that way.
Robinson: Bufano says many rescue dogs come from instability, and another surrender can set them back.
Bufano: Dogs have feelings just like us.
They take a while for them to trust you. But once you have that trust they’re the most loyal dog you’re ever gonna find.
Robinson: Some owners say the problem often starts before a dog even reaches a shelter.
Sarah Barrows: People just don’t understand what they’re getting into so instead of taking the time to do that they just give them up.
Robinson: Barrows says the holidays can make that worse. When pets are given as gifts without a long term plan, they often pay the price.
Barrows: My first dog Zeus, the reason he came from an abusive home was because a wife got him for her husband that didn’t actually want him. So he lived in a basement and a backyard by himself for two years.
Robinson: Advocates say many of these surrenders are preventable if families know where to get help.
Hadley Skule: A lot of times owner surrenders are preventable. They’re just lacking resources.
Robinson: That’s where groups like Cuse Pit Crew step in, offering low cost or free food, medical care, spay and neuter services, and basic supplies for families who need them. These services are designed to step in before families reach a breaking point.
Skule: When you can’t provide a roof over your own head, your children’s head, or food on the table, the pet becomes second.
Robinson: Through community events and outreach, the group works to keep dogs at home and make sure adoption is a lifelong decision.
Robinson: Rescue owners and advocates agree, with the right help, every dog has a better chance to stay home.
Desiree Robinson, NCC News.
Barrows also notes how the holiday season can unintentionally contribute to the problem.
“Pets aren’t presents,” she said.
She emphasizes how dogs given as gifts without a long-term plan may pay the price later. One dog Barrows rescued, came from an abusive home.
“My first dog Zeus, the reason he came from an abusive home was because a wife got him for her husband that didn’t actually want him,” Barrows said. “So he lived in a basement and a backyard by himself for two years.”
Cases like Zeus’s reflect a nationwide pattern. National shelter data shows that about 29 percent of shelter animal intakes are owner surrenders, with housing costs, financial strain, and unexpected life changes among the most common reasons.
Supportive resources like affordable veterinary care, behavioral training, and financial assistance could help many families keep their pets instead of surrendering them.
Advocates in Syracuse say many of these surrenders could be prevented with the right help.
“A lot of times owner surrenders are preventable. They’re just lacking resources,” said Hadly Skule, secretary at Cuse Pit Crew.
The organization offers low-cost or free food, medical care, spay and neuter services, and basic supplies to families who need them.
“Housing and food security is probably one of the largest reasons people have to surrender their pets,” Skule said. “When you can’t provide a roof over your own head, your children’s head, or food on the table, the dog becomes second.”
Skule also points to the holidays as a pressing time for shelters.
“The holidays are a huge surge for pet surrenders,” Skule said. “A lot of people get their children pets for Christmas and then once the commodity wears off, they no longer want them so the shelters face that burden.”
Through community events and outreach, Cuse Pit Crew works to educate pet owners and connect them with resources to help keep their dogs at home and ensure adoption remains a lifelong commitment. With the right support, rescue owners and advocates say every dog has a better chance of staying in the family.
For information on low-cost pet resources in Central New York, including food, medical care, and behavior support, visit the Cuse Pit Crew online.