Across St. Louis County, animal lovers are stepping up to help — but right now, the county’s own shelter is overwhelmed. Reports indicate the St. Louis County Animal Care and Control and Pet Adoption Center is housing roughly twice as many dogs as it was designed to hold. At the same time, budget shortfalls have limited the county’s ability to respond to these urgent needs.

When shelters are overcrowded, animals face higher stress, increased illness risk, and fewer chances of being adopted. Staff and volunteers are stretched thin, doing everything they can — but they cannot solve a systemic funding gap on their own. A newly formed nonprofit is already trying to fill in the cracks by raising money for emergency medical care and additional kennel space. That effort shows just how much this community cares. But it should not fall solely on donations to ensure humane conditions.

St. Louis County has both the responsibility and the authority to act.

We are calling on the St. Louis County Council and County Executive Sam Page to immediately allocate emergency funding to the Animal Care and Control and Pet Adoption Center. This funding should be used to reduce overcrowding, expand safe kennel capacity, and ensure that every animal receives proper medical care and humane treatment.

The community is already stepping up. Now it’s time for county leadership to do the same.

Every day of delay means more animals living in overcrowded conditions and fewer chances for them to thrive. St. Louis County must act now to protect the animals in its care and support the people working tirelessly to help them.

Sign this petition to urge county leaders to provide immediate emergency funding and ensure no animal is left without the care it deserves.