After the holidays, shelters report an influx of returning pets.

Adopting a pet is a major commitment. The CNY-SPCA sees a lot of young animals in the months following Christmas, usually three to six months old.

To avoid this, they advise bringing the entire family while adopting a pet and not buying a pet as a holiday gift. There's a potential the recipient won't want or be interested in the pet after the holidays. They've also noticed a rise in the number of animals aged one to one and a half years.

"Our best estimate is that these are pandemic puppies," said Dee Schaefer of the CNY-SPCA. "Now that folks are going back to work, their lives are getting busy, and they don't have time for that pandemic puppy."

The shelter claims that out of every 22 strays they receive, about 15 are picked up by their owners in the last few months.

Pet food can be difficult to come by due to job loss or other life circumstances. To assist pet owners, the CNY-SPCA operates a pet food pantry.

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