Across Vermont, animal shelters are in crisis. With inflation driving up the cost of living, more families are being forced to make the heartbreaking decision to surrender their beloved pets. Shelters, already stretched thin, are now at or beyond capacity. Animals that should be spending their days in loving homes are instead waiting—sometimes for months—just for a chance to be adopted.

Shelter staff and volunteers are working tirelessly, but they can’t do it alone. Rising veterinary costs, skyrocketing pet food prices, and increased utility bills mean shelters are struggling just to keep the lights on. The heartbreaking truth is that without immediate help, some shelters may be forced to turn animals away—or worse, close their doors entirely.

This isn’t just an animal welfare issue—it’s a community crisis. Pets are family, and when economic hardship forces separation, the pain is felt on both ends of the leash. The people of Vermont value compassion and community; now is the time to prove it.

We are calling on Vermont state leaders to create an emergency funding program to support our animal shelters through this difficult period. This funding would help cover the costs of food, medical care, and staffing so that no animal is turned away due to space or budget constraints.

No pet should lose their home because their family can’t afford to keep them. No shelter should have to choose between which lives they can save. With your signature, you can help make sure Vermont stands up for both its people and its animals.

Let’s ensure our shelters have the resources they need until the economic tide turns. Let’s give every pet in Vermont a fair chance at a safe, loving home.

Sign this petition and urge our lawmakers to act now—before it’s too late for the animals who have no voice but ours.