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Northern Virginia animal shelters are seeing more families struggle to care for their pets as financial pressure, housing instability and immigration enforcement force owners into painful decisions.

The Animal Welfare League of Alexandria has received more requests to rehome animals since the summer, with demand rising particularly sharply during the past month.

“Since the summer months, and especially over the last month, we’ve seen an increase in requests to help rehome animals,” said Erin Shackelford, the organization’s senior manager of communications and event marketing. “There’s a stigma when there shouldn’t be, so oftentimes we don’t get the full story behind why an animal is being surrendered. Still, we understand that there are so many situations beyond anyone’s control right now.”

Shelters generally do not press owners to explain why they are giving up an animal. Housing concerns are among the reasons most often mentioned, a category that can include both financial and legal uncertainty.

The growing need has coincided with the longest federal government shutdown in U.S. history, cuts to SNAP food assistance and intensified immigration enforcement.

In Arlington, shelter officials have also observed a change among stray animals that go unclaimed. More of them are small pets that appear to have received attentive care, including recent grooming.

“We have noticed a strain in the community,” said Amy Schindler, chief operating officer of the Animal Welfare League of Arlington. “As we’ve seen this, it’s easy to understand that these are not instances of owners not loving their pets.”

Alexandria shelter officials have connected some surrenders directly to deportations. In one case, a woman being held at a deportation facility contacted a neighbor and arranged for nine cats in her apartment to be taken to the shelter.

“It’s important to us to support people, who even in their worst times, are fighting to protect their pets,” Shackelford said.

The Arlington and Alexandria animal welfare leagues are separate nonprofits contracted by their respective localities to provide animal control, shelter services and assistance to pet owners. Both have reported greater demand for programs designed to keep animals with their families.

Their pet pantries distribute free food, cat litter and other supplies to residents who need help. During 2025, both organizations expanded those resources.

Alexandria’s pantry ordinarily serves between 100 and 150 people, according to Shackelford. During the most recent month, that number more than doubled.

“We’ve seen a massive increase in people asking for support just to feed their animals, whether it’s pet food or cat litter,” she said.

Shelter leaders say they remain committed to those services even as nonprofits prepare for possible fundraising difficulties. Schindler said Arlington intends to preserve emergency housing, free pet food and supply distribution, and free or reduced-cost spay and neuter programs.

“We will absolutely find a way to maintain those services,” she said. “It’s top of mind.”

Both organizations are urging residents to contact them whenever a crisis threatens their ability to care for an animal. Assistance may help owners avoid surrender, while those who must relinquish a pet can do so without being judged.

“This year has shown that everyone can use help,” Schindler said. “There’s no one type of reason or person or situation that creates these situations.”

The shelters also accept donations and offer short- and long-term fostering opportunities. Volunteers with different schedules and levels of availability have assisted the organizations, including during periods of federal furlough.

The Animal Welfare League of Alexandria can be reached at (703) 746-4774. The Animal Welfare League of Arlington can be reached at (703) 931-9241.