By Rachel Lippmann, KWMU
St. Louis – The prolonged economic downturn is leading to an increase in population at the Humane Society of Missouri.
Adoption center director Cyndi Nason said five to eight percent more animals were given away this year because families can no longer afford to care for their pets, or have been forced to move somewhere that animals aren't allowed.
Nason said there's no common story among the pet owners other than economic distress. But she said some breeds such as pit bulls and Rottweilers are harder to move with than others.
"There are some breed bans in different animals, and even if the breed is allowed in an area, sometimes the landlords will not allow them," Nason said.
Nason said the organization is keeping up pretty well with the extra demand.
She said the Humane Society uses all three of its metro St. Louis locations, as well as its rescue ranch near Union, to house the extra animals.