The Bridgeport Animal Control is one of the largest municipal shelters in the region but is reaching capacity on animal intake.

“We’re on track to double our intake. It’s gotten to the point where everything that we do isn’t resulting in what it used to,” said Jennifer Merenda Bridgeport, chief animal control officer.

The calls for service at Bridgeport Animal Control never stop, even as it took in 500 animals in the past six months.

“We will respond when we get a call for a dog that’s taped up in a box in a parking lot, cats abandoned in a crate in Stratford. These are Connecticut animals that have been displaced,” said Merenda.

The animal capacity puts a strain on shelters like the Bridgeport Animal Control, which works hard to give pets the love they need, including playtime.

“I think it’s when we talk about economic struggles, when we talk about a complete lack of affordable, pet-friendly housing,” said Merenda.

The staff said that without solutions, there could be serious impacts.

“There’s a lot of struggles that southern shelters go through, that island shelters go through. But what people don’t realize is that those struggles are coming here,” Merenda said. “We aren’t euthanizing for space and time - which we haven't done here in Bridgeport for almost 10 years. What we’re trying to do is get ahead of that situation.”

That’s why they’re looking for a helping hand to adopt, refer, foster or donate pet food.

“Come here first. There’s nothing wrong with saving an animal from the south, but let’s take care of our animals here in Fairfield (County) first,” said Sue Cronin founder, of the Blue Ribbon Animal Rescue.

The staff said the pets are available to go to their forever homes.

Anyone interested in adopting an animal from their shelter can go to Facebook or view them on Petfinder.