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IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI)– As winter sets in, animal shelters across the country brace for an unfortunate trend: a surge in surrendered pets.

According to most reports, animal shelters fill up more during the winter months, most often after Christmas. But for the Idaho Falls animal shelter, they see influxes of animals coming into their shelter throughout the year.

“We do see an influx in dogs and cats after Christmas, when people realize a pet wasn’t a good fit or they just weren’t prepared,” explains Officer Danielle Harker of the Idaho Falls Animal Control. “But we also generally see an increase in the summer months when it gets a little bit warmer, and people are leaving their dogs outside more often; they tend to escape and get out.”

The most demanding time of year, however, is often spring.

“We’re always looking for fosters, especially for cats and kittens. We go through what we call kitten season in the spring months,” Officer Harker notes. “We are constantly getting little bottle babies that need to be bottle-fed around the clock, or ones that just aren’t quite big enough for adoption yet.”

Besides fostering or adopting, communities can help through social media.

“Sharing our Facebook posts when we post any animals that are available for adoption or stray animals is always super helpful. The more we can get their pictures out there, the quicker we can get them reunited with their families,” Officer Harker said.

Animal shelters face overcrowding for several reasons, including rising pet care costs, failure to spay or neuter, overbreeding, and staffing shortages, according to ASPCA.

With the needs of the shelter fluctuating throughout the year, there are several ways Idahoans can help the Idaho Falls Animal Shelter and other rescues in the region manage the constant flow of animals:

1. Volunteer! Spend time with furry friends.
2. Foster or adopt an animal.
3. Donate money and/or supplies.

To help your local animal shelter, check out the links below:

• For the Idaho Falls Animal Shelter, click HERE.
• For the Snake River Animal Shelter, click HERE.
• For the Blackfoot Animal Shelter, click HERE.
• For the Pocatello Animal Shelter, click HERE.

The United States Department of Agriculture recently announced that due to the government shutdown, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP benefits (also known as food stamps) will not be issued for the month of November.

The cut in funding means Americans who rely on the system to buy food will have to find alternative means to get the food they need. It also means that unless the government shutdown is ended and funding is restored, food banks around the state are preparing for a large surge in demand over the next few days and weeks.

“We are expecting a surge in demand,” said Rebecca Larsen, a director with the Eastern Idaho Community Action Partnership in Custer and Lemhi counties, who operates a local food bank. “The families that get SNAP benefits now are not going to get it next month. So we are expecting an influx of those families.”

Larsen says SNAP recipients in rural areas are especially vulnerable as there are limited grocery options in town to shop at, and who can’t afford to travel to cities like Idaho Falls or Pocatello to buy in bulk. It means the only option is turning to food pantries like what Larsen runs in Salmon and Challis.

Its a similar story with the monthly Clark County Food Pantry in Dubois where they’ll have to make available donations stretch farther.

“We’re a small community and so we don’t necessarily expect more people,” said Tom L. Strong with the Dubois based food pantry. “But we expect those people will need more food than they normally would.”

Strong said their pantry provides boxes of food once a month for the Clark County community until its gone. “Hopefully we can give them enough to supplement them through this,” said Strong.

Both Strong and Larsen say the best way to help local food banks immediately is through direct food donations. They will accept monetary donations as well, but food donations means they can turn around and get it to people in need quickly.

“We really appreciate the proteins: peanut butter, canned meat, canned chicken, canned tuna,” said Larsen. “Proteins really go far and that’s something that our food bank is lacking right now.”

For those interested in donating to any local food bank. A map with information and phone numbers across the state can be found HERE.

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) — The State of Idaho is mourning the loss of a revered public servant and former U.S. Representative, Richard Stallings, who passed away peacefully on Sunday afternoon, October 26, at the age of 85.

The four-term Democratic congressman was known for his dedication to Idaho’s working families and his commitment to service. He leaves behind a significant legacy in the state’s political history.

“Idaho lost one of its true public servants with the passing of Richard Stallings. He never forgot who he was fighting for, and he never stopped showing up for the people of Idaho,” stated Idaho Democratic Party Chair Lauren Necochea. She praised his approach, noting that he “believed in listening first, leading with integrity, and fighting for the people who too often went unheard in Washington.”

A Life Dedicated to Teaching and Family

Before his political career, Stallings was a beloved educator. Born in Ogden, Utah, on October 7, 1940, he completed his education after serving a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in New Zealand from 1960–1962. He went on to teach history for well over a decade at Rick’s College in Rexburg, Idaho.

His family remembered him as a man of immense character. His daughter, Sal Duncan, shared a heartfelt tribute on Facebook, saying: “We will miss him greatly… Father, husband, grandfather, friend. A Doer, public servant, champion of the underserved. A historian, teacher, storyteller, world traveller. His family’s biggest fan (and we’re his). What a lucky daughter to have had such a supportive, encouraging, humorous, safe, and loving Dad. Love you Forever and ever.”

Though he ran several unsuccessful campaigns after leaving Congress, including for the U.S. Senate and later attempts to regain his congressional seat in 1998 and 2014, Necochea notes he continued to serve by meeting and mentoring local representatives and leaders. She says Stallings’ life was defined by a consistent commitment to service, from his classroom in Rexburg to the halls of Washington, D.C.

“Richard reminded us that politics at its best is about people, not power. It is about understanding our neighbors’ struggles and standing up for them,” stated Nechocea. “His legacy endures in the leaders he inspired, the communities he strengthened, and the countless Idahoans who saw in him what public service should look like: humble, principled, and tireless in pursuit of the common good. Our hearts are with his family and all who loved him.”

Funeral arrangements have not yet been publicly announced by Stalling’s family at this time.