There is a significant number of strays in DeKalb, so many that animal shelters in the community are having a hard time keeping up with the abandoned animals.

There are places these animals can go, such as the DeKalb County Animal Welfare Shelter and TAILS Humane Society. These are just two places strays are taken when found.

The DeKalb County Animal Welfare Shelter is one of the main places that takes abandoned animals. It is able to house about 60 animals.

“These animals are out in the cold. They have no food, no shelter and no one to take care of them,” said Roberta Shoaf, assistant manager of the DeKalb County Animal Welfare Shelter.

“A lot of people just put out cats when they don’t want them anymore. But these animals are not prepared to live on their own.”

Shoaf said the cat population is multiplying.

“There is a little better control on dogs because animal control picks them up,” Shoaf said, “so we don’t have them running around. But there isn’t anybody to govern stray cats.”

But there is hope for cats. Shoaf said people who feel sorry for them can do something.

“Our county does have a spaying and neutering program, or you can take the animals to local veterinarians. If you get a pet, it’s your pet, so keep it or find somewhere else to put it, if you don’t want it anymore.”

TAILS Humane Society is another place that houses abandoned animals.

TAILS is a small place, housing only about 10 to 15 adult cats and 15 kittens. It tries to place the animals by putting them in foster homes.

According to officials from TAILS, the problem of strays in the area may stem from NIU students.

“At the end of the semester, whenever NIU lets out, there is an increase of cats, dogs, ferrets and other pets that are abandoned,” said Beth Drake, program development coordinator of TAILS.

Those who want to get rid of pets might want to rethink leaving them in DeKalb.

“Sometimes it means driving as far as Chicago,” Drake said, “because there are so few resources in DeKalb County.”