TAMPA, Fla. — Many people consider pets a part of their family, but imagine having to pack up and leave your pet behind.

That’s the reality, though, for some immigrants, and it’s having an effect on shelters in the Bay area.

What You Need To Know

McNeely Farmily Rescue and Sanctuary has foster-based and medical dogs

The sanctuary was founded in 2021 by April McNeely and her husband

The sanctuary says it has received 12 animals because of deportations

April McNeely knows a thing or two about taking care of pets.

She’s the owner of McNeely Farmily Rescue and Sanctuary. It’s not just a job for her, it’s about making every dog feel safe under her care.

“It’s therapeutic, it is. They’re so happy,” she said.

They have more than 60 dogs, not including farm animals. And they have foster-based or medical animals.

But recently, they have taken in animals that McNeely said have been left behind by families who have been deported or self-deported.

“Most of the dogs that we’re finding were left behind in a safer place that the family chose. Pixie was left in a crate in the grounds area.”

Pixie is one of 12 animals that McNeely said are now at the sanctuary because of deportations.

“We’ve also talked to several people who have asked us, if their families had to leave, would we be able to take their animals,” she said.

McNeely said some families don’t know where to turn to for help.

Immigration attorney Ananis Makar said many families affected by detainment are leaving behind homes and pets.

“There’s phone calls every day about, ‘Hey, my family member just got detained, what do I do?'” Makar said. “Out of those hundreds that are calling, I would say that none of them really had that plan, none of them had that action plan based on that.”

More than half a million immigrants have been deported under the Trump administration, and more than 1.5 million have voluntarily self-deported, according to the Department of Homeland Security.

McNeely said she tries to prioritize finding homes for the animals who were given up by those detained or self-deported. “It does add, like a time crunch issue for all the local rescues who have to accommodate the animals that we’re finding,” she said.

While McNeely said the situation saddens her, she wants to be there to help.

“There’s a person for every single one of these guys, and until that person comes along, we’ll be that person,” she said.

Keeping pets safe and out of harm’s way as families make decisions whether to leave or stay.

McNeely Farmily Rescue and Sanctuary also has education it offers to pet owners on how to care for their pets to help keep those pets in homes and out of shelters.