Sponsored By. The number of surrender requests at Circle of Friends Animal Shelter in Grand Forks has exceeded the amount of space available to house them. At the same time, Circle of Friends has a waiting list of more than 60 pet owners who want to surrender their animals to the shelter. Circle of Friends cannot add any more owners to the waiting list, but will continue to admit the shelter pets brought in by the Grand Forks Police Department and strays that have been abandoned in Grand Forks County, according to Tupa.
A tsunami of events during the past few months has resulted in the shelter being crowded and stretching the limited staff who take care of them, Tupa said. For example, besides the usual strays brought to the Circle of Friends Animal Shelter by local law enforcement, it has been inundated with felines and canines from hoarding situations, she said. Meanwhile, the coronavirus pandemic has resulted in a flood of pets from people in difficult financial situations and can no longer afford to take proper care of their animals, she said.
People also have surrendered their pets to the shelter during the pandemic because they lost their jobs and moved in with family members or friends who also own pets. The tight housing at Circle of Friends that was exacerbated by the pandemic is not unique to Grand Forks. Tupa has turned down requests from people across the United States who are seeking a place to surrender their animals, she said. Besides being at capacity, Circle of Friends Animal Shelter has received more than requests for pet food from people whose wages have been reduced or have lost their jobs during the pandemic, she said.
The shelter will open two pet food pantries on Friday, Aug. Washington St. The Circle of Friends pantry is open from 8 a. Besides having pet food available at the pantries, Circle of Friends also contributes pet supplies to HC Community Care and Food Pantry in Grand Forks so its clients can pick up pet food, kitty litter and toys when they get groceries for their families. In addition, the shelter partners with Meals on Wheels, and COF staff deliver plastic bags of pet food to elderly people when its staff is delivering food to them.
Circle of Friends also is hosting adoption events from Thursday, Aug. Besides adopting pets, volunteering for foster care of pets and donations of food, tie blankets and money and gift cards to Circle of Friends, people can help simply by extending acts of kindness, Tupa said.
