Companion animals were all the rage during the COVID-19 pandemic, but shelters say they’re now observing a different trend as animals are surrendered by owners who can no longer afford to house or care for them. “The primary reasons that we’re seeing people surrender animals currently is that they are moving or having landlord issues,” Monica Schmidt, assistant director of OC Animal Care told The Epoch Times. “Most typically, it is because they are moving and cannot take their pets to the new property where they might be downsizing because of financial reasons, or can’t afford the pet deposit, or perhaps they are moving in with a relative and the relative will not allow the pet in the home.” Schmidt said at least one-third of their owner relinquishment requests at intake are from people with housing issues, and that the uptick is indicative of the underlying issues people are struggling …