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Pet dumping is reaching a crisis point in CT.Pet dumping is becoming a major problem in Connecticut, straining animal control officers while shelters are reaching full capacity.In Hartford, animal control officers said they are finding dogs dumped in parks and cemeteries on a nearly daily basis.To make matters worse, officials said that they are not being adopted fast enough.Dog dumping has become such a problem that the Hartford Animal Shelter in partnership with the Hartford Police Department said it may be forced to start euthanizing healthy dogs as the shelter reaches capacity.The shelter recently put out a plea on social media for the public to adopt from local shelters.“HELP!!!!!!PLEASE KEEP SHARING THE DOGS THAT ARE POSTED ON THIS PAGE.OUR SHELTER IS AT A 90% CAPACITY!ANIMALS ARE BEING DUMPED ON A DAILY BASIS AND SADLY NO DOGS ARE GETTING ADOPTED.WE ARE RUNNING OUT OF SPACE.!!!!,” the Hartford Animal Shelter posted on its Facebook page.Robin “Zilla” Cannamela, president of Desmond’s Army Animal Law Advocates, said the issue of pet dumping has become a major problem and is getting worse.She said it’s not just an issue in cities and towns, but its a statewide problem as the cost of pet ownership has skyrocketed since the pandemic.“We’re seeing it on a daily basis all over the state, it’s getting a lot worse,” Cannamela said.“It’s a culmination of things.It’s the perfect storm between the costs of veterinary care, people not spaying or neutering their pets, animals being imported from out of state and the rising costs of pet food.“There’s also a lot of people who don’t do their research on what kind of pet they are getting.Someone may get a Husky and realize they can’t handle the dog or it becomes too big.We’re also seeing kittens dumped by the litter.We’re in a crisis.” Pet dumping is a criminal act and can lead to charges including animal cruelty, Cannamela said.Because pets lack the natural instincts to survive in the wild, this practice frequently exposes them to starvation, extreme weather, vehicle accidents or fatal attacks by wildlife.Desmond’s Army is offering a $5,000 reward for anyone who provides information that helps catch someone who dumped their pets.“Dumping your pet is no different than killing them, it is the same thing,” Cannamela said.“When you dump your pet, you are essentially leaving them to die.Be it getting hit by a car, taken by predators, or snatched up for nefarious reasons like being used for dog fights.You are leaving that animal to die.If you dump your pet, we will put out a reward, and if we catch you, we will charge you criminally.” Campanella said one of the big reasons for pet dumping, besides the skyrocketing costs of pet ownership, is the importation of pets from out-of-state breeders.She said many animals imported from other places often lack proper veterinary care or have undisclosed medical problems.When that animal needs care, it can cost thousands of dollars.It’s money that some pet owners cannot afford.“There are ways to get help if needed, the last thing to do is to dump your pet,” Cannamela said.“There’s also pet food pantries they can call if they need help with food.There’s one in Hartford and many other places throughout the state.There is help available.I know vet costs are an issue, but if they do need help with food, there are many options.” Animal advocates noted that, if you cannot take care of your pet, you should drop the animal off at your nearest local animal shelter.If your pet was adopted, reach out to your original breeder or rescue first — many adoption contracts require you to return the pet to them.Anyone can use the Adopt-a-Pet Rehome Tool to list a pet for direct adoption or search for local organizations that offer temporary assistance.Stephen Underwood can be reached at sunderwood@courant.com.