Every year, thousands of Latino families face a cruel choice: leaving their loved ones behind for fear of arrest. But there are other silent victims: their pets, who become the "invisible collateral victims."

Under the Trump administration, tightening immigration policies led to dogs, cats, and even rabbits being stranded in shelters, forgotten and heartbroken.

In many cases, detained migrants didn't have time to arrange their pets' fate. According to a recent CNN report, following a surge in deportations in Los Angeles, dozens of animals were handed over to the Lancaster Animal Care Center and other county shelters.

So some shelters began preparing for a wave of abandoned animals. “We’re seeing a clear pattern: when there are raids, the animals arrive alone,” said one shelter worker.

See Full Page