Vermonters Against Animal Cruelty and Abandonment (VAACA), and many other animal welfare, rescue groups, shelters, and animal control officers across the state are feeling overwhelmed by the drastic increase in stray, abandoned and neglected animals in Vermont.
VAACA came to fruition in September 2024, as a small core group of like-minded animal advocates joined forces for a common cause. The group brings together rescue founders, volunteers, fosters, and animal control officers, some of whom serve multiple roles, all of whom understand the importance of collaborating to achieve our mission.
The pressure comes from the enormous influx of dogs this year. From strays that go unclaimed, dogs that are dumped or abandoned, owner surrenders, and everything in between. The sheer numbers are astronomical. The struggles of securing and funding vet care, finding placements in foster homes or shelters, and engaging law enforcement when animal cruelty is in question. Many days we function in crisis mode trying to help each and every animal, doing the work we love, that most of us do with little to no pay.
VAACA has started to track numbers within our own organizations. The number of dogs alone is in the hundreds, and these are the ones that have been helped and documented. Sadly, there are more dogs, and other animals which are not accounted for. A multitude of factors are to blame for this increase. Financial struggles, veterinarian costs and availability, homelessness, addiction, and mental illness are just the tip of the iceberg.
VAACA hopes to pull more organizations together from all corners the state. Using grant funding and donations to help create holding facilities, build relationships with law enforcement, create training and resources for animal control officers, and work to better our laws and enforcement with regards to animal cruelty. While all of these things are happening behind the scenes, the VAACA team continues to field calls, triage each and every one, and help the animals in need one at a time.
For more information, or if you are wondering how you can help, please follow VAACA on Facebook.
Renee Falconer, president VAACA
