Increased housing costs forcing Southwest Floridians to surrender their pets

Families are being pushed out of their homes because of increased housing costs, and that’s forcing them to give up their furry family members.

People facing sudden increased rental prices, for instance, may either have to move to a place where pets aren’t allowed or lose their housing altogether. The Gulf Coast Humane Society says it is having a hard time getting people to properly surrender their animals. Some people just drop their animals off, which is dangerous for people and those pets.

“Just with the rental increase, we are seeing, actually… two people are giving up their pets because they’ve become homeless, we’ve had people come in saying they’re living out of their vehicles,” said brian Wierima with GCHS. “And, you know, of course, that’s a very, very difficult situation, to have a pet and living out of your vehicle.”

GCHS says it is heartbreaking to see so many people in Southwest Florida so desperate that they have to give up their family pets.

“They lost their home, because either loss of income, or their rent has gone up significantly,” Wierima said. “Sometimes, where then they have to move… that new place, their new rental does not allow pets, or it’s a really high pet deposit.”