Right now, animal shelters across Wisconsin are at a breaking point. Inflation and rising living costs have left many families facing heartbreaking choices—some are being forced to surrender their pets simply because they can no longer afford food, vet care, or even pet-friendly housing.

The result? Shelters are filling beyond capacity. Dedicated staff and volunteers are working around the clock, but resources are stretched to the limit. Animals that deserve safe, loving homes are instead living in cramped spaces, with limited access to the enrichment, medical care, and attention they desperately need.

This crisis isn’t about blame—it’s about compassion. Families are hurting. Shelters are struggling. And without emergency funding, both people and pets will suffer. Emergency state and local funding could help shelters hire more staff, expand facilities, purchase critical supplies, and launch community assistance programs to keep pets in homes whenever possible.

We can’t wait for things to “work themselves out.” Every day without action means more pets arriving at shelters that have no space, and more heartbreaking surrenders from people who love their animals but can’t keep them.

We are calling on Wisconsin state legislators, county boards, and city councils to act now—allocate emergency funds to animal shelters and rescue organizations, and invest in programs that help struggling families keep their pets. With the right support, we can ease overcrowding, prevent unnecessary surrenders, and give every animal the safe, loving future they deserve.

This is a crisis we can solve—if we stand together. Sign this petition to demand immediate action to protect Wisconsin’s pets and support the shelters working tirelessly to save them.