LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KTHV) - With springtime weather upon us, Central Arkansas animal shelters are preparing for an influx of puppies and kittens.
"Here before long we'll be overwhelmed," Little Rock Animal Services manager Tracy Roark said.
Roark said the Little Rock Animal Village is always at capacity, but April-August is especially busy.
"It's breeding time so dogs are getting loose," he said. "When a female goes into heat, it gets all the males all riled up so they're out running loose, so we're picking up dogs."
Roark urges pet owners to keep their animals secured and said spaying/neutering is especially important in controlling the animal population.
"We're full of puppies in this world," he said. "The best thing they can do to help us is make sure their animals are sterilized."
Amid the expected rush of puppies and kittens, Friends of the Animal Village (FAV) president Betsy Robb said the non-profit support group is prepared to help.
"We're talking about week-old puppies and kittens, up to eight weeks old," Robb said. "So we need fosters who can care for them and bottle feed."
Whether it's adopting, fostering, advocating, or making a financial donation, Robb said community efforts make a major impact in saving the lives of helpless animals.
To view the FAV wish list, including its Amazon Wish List, click here.
For a list of low-cost spay and neuter clinics and other resources for pet owners, click here.