The Pet Circle Regional Animal Center in Waco is currently facing significant overcrowding, with an urgent need for support to help homeless pets find their forever homes. According to 2025 statistics from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, approximately 5.8 million dogs and cats entered U.S. shelters and rescues, while only 4.2 million pets were adopted.
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Windy Leal, the communication specialist at the center, reported that the facility is operating at 136% of its adult dog kennel capacity, which has led to challenging adjustments to manage the influx of animals.
“We have some dogs that are doubled up,” Leal noted. “We also have some dogs in pop-up kennels and in staff members’ offices because we would rather have them in our office than make hard decisions.”
This crisis is exacerbated by the continuous arrival of unwanted animals, largely due to pet owners not spaying or neutering their pets. The reality has left the shelter with a troubling statistic: they took in 58 animals in the last week, but only managed 36 adoptions.
Despite the challenges, Leal expressed gratitude for the support from Baylor University and the potential for future assistance. Local student Drew Carter shared his experience adopting a dog named Tux, stating, “Adopting Tux was such a rewarding decision. It also feels good knowing that he is in a good home and has freed up space for other dogs.”
For Baylor students who may not be able to adopt, the shelter offers a program called Bark, which allows individuals to take a dog or cat out for the day. “Bark is basically when you come in to borrow a dog for a little while,” Leal explained. Participants can take a dog out for any duration, helping to socialize the animals while giving them a break from the shelter environment.
Those interested in adopting or participating in the Bark program can visit Pet Circle at 2032 Circle Road. The shelter hours are 12-6 p.m. on most weekdays, 12-5 p.m. on Fridays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays, and 1-5 p.m. on Sundays.