The Associated Humane Society in Newark may be forced to euthanize eight dogs if they’re not adopted by next week due to extreme overcrowding.

The AHS shelter in Newark is well over capacity with 180 dogs.

The shelter takes in about 10 dogs a day, many of which are surrenders or strays.

However, staffers say that on average, only 10 dogs are adopted per week.

Because of a lack of living space at the facility, dogs are only allowed to live in half of a kennel.

Olivia Gonzalez, with the AHS Newark, says they are in serious need of help from the community.

“Some of our longest residents are pushing 400 days. It exacerbates their shelter stress tenfold. It is not fair for these dogs to be living in a kennel day in and day out for months on end,” said Olivia Gonzalez.

The shelter has a waitlist of owners who have called wanting to surrender their pets that reaches into February 2026.

Gonzalez says many people surrender because they simply can’t afford to care for the pet.

Others have been forced, due to financial reasons, to move from a house into an apartment where dogs or select breeds are not always allowed in a building.

The shelter on Evergreen Avenue is open seven days a week.

There are no fees to adopt.

Fostering is also available for those who want to help.