NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The slump in the housing market and subsequent rise in foreclosures are causing animal shelters to be overcrowded.

Video: Foreclosures Cited For Increased Pet Abandonment

According to Metro Animal Control, the number of abandoned animals is growing.

They said they are typically seeing more dogs left chained up or in the yard after their owners are long gone.

"We're seeing a lot more people leave animals when (they) leave home," Metro Animal Control Officer Billy Biggs said.

Biggs said in the last few months, there has been a noticeable increase in abandoned animals.

"It's something we were expecting -- above capacity because of foreclosures," Biggs said.

While California has had the highest foreclosure rate among the U.S., Tennessee is in the top 20, which may explain why the shelter's typical springtime surge is ahead of schedule.

They said most of the animals are getting the minimum time that they must be kept at the shelter by law.

"It's hard to keep them much more than required," Biggs said.

Adoptions tend to increase during the spring, Biggs said.

Robert and Teryl Brake recently adopted from the shelter.

Both said they noticed that they had a number of pets to choose from.

"I think what's happening is people are making choices (that they're) not making normally," Teryl Brake said.

Animal control officials said that if they can track down the owners who abandoned their pets, charges will be filed.

Biggs said the shelter is so over-crowded that they are euthanizing anywhere from 30-50 animals every day, six days a week.