With several animal shelters across Central Florida reaching capacity, it’s started to take a toll on pet rescues who foster shelter and surrendered pets.

Archana Narayanan said she has fostered pets for four years, but this past few months have been the most difficult. She has worked with multiple pet rescues including Adore Pet Rescue, Endless Pawsibilities Animal Rescue, and Little Rascals Dog Rescue.

Orange County and Marion County Animal Services report they’ve reached capacity. OCAS said many of the pets being surrendered by their owners were because of rising rent costs.

Lake County Animal Services reports since April it's taken in more than 400 animals.

With shelters at capacity, it means rescues are being asked to take in more pets.

“Sometimes we had no other option than to say ‘no’,” Narayanan said. 

Several people have said ‘no’ all together and left the pet rescue world because of the growing demand.

It’s added more pressure for those who stick around.

Narayanan is fostering five dogs and that’s on top of the two dogs she owns. She said she loves it but even she has her limit.

“It’s been definitely hard to say ‘no.’ I’m at capacity and I really can’t take on more unless the adoptions happen really soon,” she said.

Before the dogs are adopted, the future owners will need to go through an extensive background check to ensure they can take these puppies to their forever home, and Archana can foster a new litter.

She said pet adoptions, if the owners can afford it or are capable of doing it, are a huge help. She also said donations help pet rescues pay for medical expenses, food and other goods pets need.