CANANDAIGUA, N.Y. — The Ontario Humane Society’s Happy Tails Shelter has been operating above its capacity for most of 2025 due to a surge in animal hoarding cases in Ontario County.
The shelter has responded to five hoarding cases this year, compared to none last year. Kurt Koczent, the shelter’s Board President, said a recent case in Geneva has increased its numbers again.
“Just one hoarding case after the next to get us to the highest census that we’ve ever had of 125 animals has just been really taxing on the organization,” Koczent said.
More than 85 animals are currently staying at the shelter, which is meant to hold a maximum of 50.
“Our animal intake is the highest that I can call and it’s 40% over last year so we’ve taken in almost 300 animals this year,” Koczent said.
Koczent explained that it’s difficult to determine the exact cause of the rise in hoarding cases, but some patterns have emerged.
“What it appears to be is that people lose control of what’s happening with their house and the number of animals that are either, you know, procreating and really what to do with them,” he said.
Volunteers have contributed over 5,500 combined hours in a record-setting effort to support the shelter.
“Frankly, without them we wouldn’t be able to do all that we do and you know we have around 50 to 60 volunteers and they’re working tirelessly to get these animals back to health,” Koczent said.
Since November 1, Happy Tails Shelter has been waiving adoption fees for service members and first responders and lowering fees for Ontario County residents. This initiative has helped over 50 animals find new homes.
Every animal adopted from Happy Tails is spayed or neutered, microchipped, and fully vaccinated.
To adopt an animal from them, click the Happy Tails Animal Shelter’s website, here.
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