The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals BC says its shelters are overcrowded with cats from a recent rescue.
In a statement issued Monday, communications communications general manager Lori Chortyk said the organization had responded to several clusters in which “up to 100 cats” were rescued at once.
“This time of year is always very busy with arriving animals, and these large-scale arrivals place additional demands on our facilities and resources,” Chortyk said.
According to the COVID statement, “rising living costs and mental health challenges” have played a significant role in the SPCA’s growing need to intervene.
“We are definitely getting more and more applications for property aid, where accumulation situations are out of control or people are simply overwhelmed by the number of animals they care for,” Chortyk said.
One of the 120 cats and three dogs that the BC SPCA seized from a trailer at Fort St. James. Animals recover from physical ailments caused by being trapped in tight, dirty conditions. (BC SPCA)
This month alone, we accepted 120 cats from a property in the northern part of BC. and similar cases occur throughout the province. “
In that case, animal control officers searched a Fort St. James trailer near Prince George after first finding 130 dead cats in three freezers in a trailer owned by the same person in nearby Vanderhoff, about 100 kilometers west of Prince George.
The problem of too many animals in shelters is proving widespread across the country, with many people handing over pets they adopted during the pandemic but can no longer care for them when they return to work and school.
Calgary City Authorities, along with the Calgary Humane Society and the Alberta Society for the Rescue of Animals (AARCS), issued a statement last week saying animal welfare organizations were “in crisis” and shelters were full. .
AARCS Executive Director Dina Thompson said staff had noticed a 200% increase in the number of people who wanted to hand over their pets.
In Ontario, the Kingston Humane Society said in May it had 62 dogs in its shelter and more than 100 in foster care.
“We see that once people return to their pre-pandemic lifestyle, they have failed or want to maintain that commitment,” said CEO Gord Hunter.
To help with the release on the spot, the BC SPCA announced on Monday that it is offering a 50% discount on cat adoption fees in hopes of finding loving cat homes that are currently being cared for. Chortyk says he encourages anyone thinking of adopting a cat to take advantage of the promotion.
“Not only will you provide a loving home for a deserving animal, but it will allow us to build the capacity to help more abused and neglected animals.”
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