ST. JOSEPH COUNTY — The economy is making it difficult for some people to afford their pets. It's forcing owners to give them up. But, in some cases, even that comes at a price.

The intake fee at the St. Joseph County Humane Society is $50, but Pet Refuge doesn't charge. No matter the cost, shelters say it isn't solving the main issue.

A sign hanging on little Enzo's cage at the St. Joseph County Humane Society tells a familiar story.

"Last year we didn't have much of an effect with the economy, but the last four to six months we have definitely had an effect with the increase in the amount of animals coming in," said St. Joseph County Humane Society Assistant Director Melissa Bishop.

Across town, Pet Refuge is dealing with the same thing.

"People that have had their homes foreclosed on, people that have lost their jobs can't afford to take the pet, keep it to feed it, whatever," said Pet Refuge President Sandy Parr.

Two years ago, the Humane Society started charging a fee to cover expenses associated with the animals they take in.

"That does guarantee that we will do medical treatment if it's something that we can fix. If they're ill we'll medicate them until they're better and they're put up in our no-kill adoption center. And we're striving for a no-kill policy in complete," said Bishop.

While Pet Refuge does not charge a fee, it's feeling the impact. Because people are trying to avoid the fee at the Humane Society, they now have a waiting list to take in animals.

"We would love a donation. But we realize that these people, if they've lost their job and they can't afford to feed the pet then they can't afford to give us a fee to relinquish it," said Parr.

Both shelters say overcrowding is a problem and they're working to solve it for the same reason.

"Because of my love for animals," Parr said. "And we do all what we possibly can do."

The Elkhart County Humane Society has a $20 intake fee for an adoptable pet. It's $50 if it's not adoptable, meaning it's sick, old, or has a bad temperament and will have to be euthanized.

South Bend Animal Control also has a $20 fee. But if people can't afford that, South Bend will try to work something out.

For more information about adoption click the link in the Related Content box.