Humane Society of the Black Hills faces overcapacity

The Humane Society of the Black Hills is facing a significant overcapacity issue, with 129 dogs, 228 cats, five snakes, a lizard and four rabbits currently under its care.

The shelter is beyond its limits, and staff struggle to manage the overwhelming number of surrendered and stray animals.

Jerry Steinley, the shelter's executive director, said the shelter has been "bursting at the seams" as more animals continue to arrive.

"We're seeing more surrenders than in the past, and the length of stay for animals has increased by about a week. We're just starting to see more animals here with longer stays and more frequent drop-offs," he said.

According to Steinley, housing issues in Rapid City and surrounding areas have played a major role in the rising number of surrenders.

Caitlin Ausmann-Winn, the shelter's community development manager, said many pet owners struggle to find affordable, pet-friendly housing.

"A lot of times, people surrender their pets because they simply don't have a place to live," she said.

The shelter has been taking in a large number of animals, with 117 new arrivals last week alone. Steinley said spaying and neutering could reduce the number of litters and, ultimately, the intake of puppies and feral cats.

To manage the overwhelming numbers, HSBH has been pushing adoption specials, including a $31 promotion for adult cats and dogs, to reduce barriers for potential adopters.

However, adoptions have slowed with the end of summer.

"People are back to school and busy with other activities," Ausmann-Winn said. "We're also pushing volunteering, as many people have hours they need to fulfill for clubs or other activities."

Despite opening extra rooms and kennels, the shelter remains critically full.

"Each of us in our offices has an animal or two hanging out because there's no space for them on the floor. That's a clear sign that we're far over capacity," Ausmann-Winn said.

The shelter urges the community to help by adopting, fostering, volunteering and donating supplies such as cat and dog food, kitty litter and cash to assist with mounting expenses.

"Cash donations are always helpful, especially when we're this full," Steinley said.

HSBH is also working on building a more sustainable future for its operations, seeking long-term support from the community by making business connections.

Despite the challenges, the staff at HSBH remain dedicated to serving the animals and the community.

"We're open admission, meaning we take in every animal that comes through our doors, no matter what," Steinley said. "But we need our community's help now more than ever."

The Humane Society of the Black Hills is located at 1820 E. Saint Patrick St. in Rapid City. For more information, visit hsbh.org or call 605-394-4170.

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