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Overcrowding Causes Shelter Animals To Be Left In Outdoor Kennels Despite Severe Weather, Humane Society Director Says

ROGERS -- Overcrowding is the reason some animals in area shelters have been kenneled outdoors recently despite severe weather conditions, according to a local shelter director.

Thirteen dogs were kept in kennels outside in subfreezing temperatures for at least 24 hours earlier this week at the Rogers Animal Shelter, according to Clayton Morgan, NWA Humane Society director.

The city issued a statement in response to public concern following a TikTok video that purportedly showed dogs left outside in below-freezing temperatures.

The statement assured the community "the health and safety of our animals have always been, and will continue to be, our highest priority."

The Rogers Animal Shelter has 12-month outdoor kennels modified to mitigate seasonal weather challenges, according to a separate statement from the city.

"Best practices are used to determine appropriate and safe outdoor sheltering throughout the year," the release states. "Factors such as the size, breed and type of dog are considered. Rogers Animal Shelter will never house a small dog in an outdoor kennel."

"Noting some reported concerns about animal care at our facility, we can, with all certainty, confirm that any animal in our care is vastly safer and healthier than if it was still roaming loose in the community," the release states.

Morgan said he reached out to the Rogers Animal Shelter, saying he was available and willing to take the dogs indoors.

The city took him up on his offer.

Morgan brought the dogs to the NWA Humane Society at 407 E. Nursery Road on Wednesday morning, where he had space indoors for them to stay, he said.

Dogs having to stay outside in the cold is happening all over the region and state, he added.

He has received calls from numerous shelters to take dogs that will be kenneled outside in severe weather unless they can be relocated, he said.

He works hard to transport animals anywhere they can go to be safe and indoors, but there are so many dogs in this area -- all the shelters are full and need help, he said.

"I do my best, but I can't do it all," he said.

The city stated in a release that the Rogers Animal Shelter is still being repaired after it was damaged in the Memorial Day weekend storms, and it is looking into a future expansion of the shelter.

"We are committed to doing everything in our power to expand capacity at the shelter in the future," the city said in the release.

The statement also references other area animal services agencies "bringing animals from other areas to adopt out, decreasing adoptions in local shelters," as part of the issue with overcrowding at the Rogers shelter.

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