ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. -- The Florida East Coast Humane Society is learning that tight economic times don't just affect people.

With donations down and the numbers of homeless animals increasing, the managers of the private, no-kill animal shelter in St. Johns County have made the tough decision to no longer accept strays.

"Given the turn in the economy and problems people are having in making ends meet, it's affected us," said Cindy Bishop of the Florida East Coast Humane Society. "(We) did not want to send more animals to a facility where they might be put down, but the financial strain on operations here just got too great."

Strays found wandering in the streets of St. Johns County must now be taken to the St Johns County Animal Control Pet Center.

While the local humane society must turn away strays, their other services are still available.

"We provide lost-cost spay neuter for the public, we provide low-cost vaccines, microchipping, and we're still taking owner-surrendered animals," Bishop told Channel 4's Ashley Townsend.

The county's animal control division anticipates the change will result in 1,000 more strays arriving at their facility each year -- a 25 percent increase.

Shelter officials said this increase will make it harder for them to maintain their protocol of only euthanizing animals for health reasons or if it is aggressive.

"If the adoptions don't go up or the claims don't go up, of course our euthanization rate will," said Paul Studivant, head of St. Johns County Animal Control.

Anyone who would like to adopt a pet or help support their shelter should contact them:

• Florida East Coast Humane Society: 904-829-2737
• St. Johns County Animal Control Pet Center:
  Donations/adoption informaiton: 904-209-6190 | Field services/animal pickup: 904-209-0746