By: Isabelle Puente
As of 2026, approximately 95 million U.S. households currently own pets with 71 million owning a dog and 53 million owning a cat. However, the U.S. is currently facing a severe overcrowding crisis in our animal shelters.
“That is pretty much every shelter everywhere, it’s not just in West Tennessee, it’s a nationwide problem,” said Whitney Owen, director of Jackson Animal Care and Control. “And there are people much smarter than me that are debating the reasons behind it, I’ve been doing this 18-years (and) it is worse now than it was 10 years ago.”
According to Wings of Rescue, approximately 5.8 million dogs and cats entered animal shelters in 2025 while only 4.2 million were adopted. Of that number, roughly 396,000 animals were euthanized due to there not being enough space. Luckily, Owen said that Jackson Animal Care and Control does not euthanize animals for space and only deems it necessary when there are certain factors such as medical issues on the table.
Jackson Animal Care and Control currently shelters 156 animals. Over the first half of 2026 they have sheltered 701 animals including cats, dogs, rabbits, guinea pigs and a bird. Although, Owen said they are currently not able to take any more in given the fact that they also care for stray animals, animals that are being held for court evidence and some nursing animals that aren’t ready for adoption.
But, with the overcrowding crisis we’re seeing, what are the options for people that need to surrender their animals but have nowhere to go?
Owen said that the reality is that if you own a pet and know you’re going to have to surrender it, you need to give your local shelter as much lead time as possible.
Owen gave an example saying if you have to move somewhere in August and cannot care for your pet anymore, then to call in June and let them know your situation and give them enough time to help make room for your animal.
To help with the overcrowding, it has to be dealt with throughout the community. Animal shelters do not have enough resources to stop this problem on their own.
If you would like to help with volunteer efforts at Jackson Animal Care and Control you call 731-422-7028 and ask for Whitney Owen or you can email Owen at [email protected].
You can also help the shelter by dropping off dog and cat food donations to their office at 241 Conalco Drive.
(PHOTO: Whitney Owen, director of Jackson Animal Care and Control)
