Right now, animal shelters across North Dakota are facing a heartbreaking crisis. Kennels are over capacity, resources are running thin, and the number of surrendered pets keeps climbing. The reason isn’t a lack of love for these animals — it’s the crushing financial pressures families are under. Inflation, rising housing costs, and job insecurity mean more and more people are being forced to give up pets they desperately wish they could keep.

Shelter workers are doing everything they can, but they’re stretched to the breaking point. Dogs are spending weeks or months in cramped kennels. Cats are being housed in hallways and offices because there’s no room left. The people who care for them are exhausted, and the animals themselves are stressed and losing hope.

This is not just a shelter problem — it’s a community problem. When pets lose their homes, families lose their companions, and animals lose their safety. Without urgent intervention, shelters may have no choice but to turn away animals in need, or worse, make heartbreaking decisions about their futures.

We are calling on state officials, local governments, and community leaders to immediately provide emergency funding to animal shelters across North Dakota. This funding would help cover food, veterinary care, staffing, and expanded shelter space — and, just as importantly, support programs that help struggling families keep their pets at home instead of surrendering them.

North Dakota prides itself on compassion, resilience, and community spirit. Let’s put those values into action now. No animal should be left without a safe place to go because of economic hardship, and no family should have to lose a beloved pet because of temporary financial struggles.

Sign this petition to urge our leaders to act now. Together, we can give shelters the resources they need, keep families together, and ensure every animal in North Dakota has a safe place to call home.