Macon Co. Animal Control Center overflowing with animal drop offs

MACON COUNTY, Ill. (WCIA) — The Macon County Animal Control & Care Center is urging people to explore all safe options before dropping their pets off as a last resort.

In a Facebook post , the Decatur & Macon County Animal Shelter Foundation announced that the Macon County Animal Control (MCAC) Center is overwhelmed with animal drop offs. Already in Nov., 60 animals have been brought in. Fourteen were dropped off on Wednesday alone.

The center has received numerous calls about people having animals to donate to them. The company wants to slow this down, and ideally stop this trend all together if possible.

Taylorville students send resources to hurricane victims

Shelter Manager Amanda Fisher explained that some pet owners don't understand that the center is supposed to be a last resort option. The shelter wants people to bring them leashes, toys and treats as opposed to dropping off their pets before they even look into alternative options.

Fisher, who has been with the shelter for 20 years, said adoptions have been down nationwide as of late, and all shelters across the U.S. are feeling the pressure of taking these pets in. She offered some advice for people who feel like they can't keep their animals.

First, try to keep the pet if you can. Through the Macon County Center, you can learn about resources that can help. Also, before taking your pet to a shelter, try to rehome the animal on your own to a caring person/family.

Decatur non-profit asks community to reflect during adoption month

If that doesn't work out, ask for a veterinarian reference so that they can help you out. The goal is to be smart and safe, that's how the center wants owners to increase pet retention as much as possible.

Fisher urges people to check other shelters and rescue sites before bringing their animals to them as a last hope. The Macon Center is looking for community support in order to get them through this abundance of abandoned animals.

The Shelter Foundation emphasizes that, "pets are not a thing to be donated, they are living, breathing, loving creatures who deserve the best the world can give them." With the near dozen pets without known owners at MCAC as of Wednesday, kennels are being doubled up as they are out of space.

For the most up-to-date information on strays and newly adoptable pets, visit 24petconnect.com . Pictures of the animals get posted every Tuesday-Saturday.