Shelters Across Canada Filling to Capacity

​www.chch.com/local-animal-shelters-at-capacity-with-increase-of-people-surrendering-pets/

​globalnews.ca/news/8969545/aarcs-at-capactiy-rescue-animals-pausing-intake/

​www.local10.com/news/local/2022/07/07/animal-shelters-plea-if-you-can-think-about-adopting-come-in-now/

​windsor.ctvnews.ca/windsor-essex-county-humane-society-reports-over-900-animals-surrendered-1.5978033

Animal shelters across Canada are bursting at the seams with surrendered animals. Shelters are reporting record amounts of surrenders and in some cases, are now full to capacity and unable to take on any more animals. There are a variety of potential reasons why surrenders are happening more frequently now but one of the biggest reasons is the fallout from the pandemic. Short-staffed veterinarians, lack of accessible veterinary care, and the re-opening of society that saw a lot of people eager to get back out in to the world, forgetting that they adopted an animal during the lockdowns.

When the lockdowns were in full effect, many families took it upon themselves to adopt animals. Unfortunately, based on the number of surrenders shelters are facing, it's obvious that a lot of these animals were purchased as entertainment versus being included in a family. Once everything reopened and life was getting back on track, these same families were suddenly too busy to care about their animals. This sort of situation is not unusual but it's incredibly unfortunate because it pushes shelters to the brink of their capabilities in terms of caring for animals. The resources needed to care for a shelter that is completely full are astronomical, and in most cases, shelters rely heavily on donations that aren't coinciding with the influx of surrendered animals.

Why Adopt?

• Pets are such an important part of our families. They provide endless love and stress relief.
• Adopting versus buying helps keep shelters open to take in more animals
• Adopting animals gives them a second chance at a happy family life
• Shelters have significantly more knowledge about pets and their behaviours than breeders
• You're literally saving lives
• Adopting animals versus buying them saves animals and stops lining the pockets of breeders who profit heavily off of these animals

At such a difficult time for shelters, we can help in a variety of ways. If you're in a position to do so, consider donating to your local shelter. You can also reach out and find out whether they're accepting donations of food or other pet-care items that you could consider donating. Consider adopting! As mentioned, animals provide us with so much in our lives. Endless love, endless memories, laughs, and so much stress relief in our everyday lives. Saving an animal in most cases, also saves us without us even realizing it. There's so much value in adding a furry friend to your family.

Shelters need our help right now as they try to care for such a vast amount of animals and anything we can do to help is appreciated. Peep the links at the top of this post for more information about shelters across Canada and the perils they're facing as a result of the pandemic related surrenders.

HAPPY VEG