Animal rescue organizations are struggling with burnout and mounting pressure to find suitable homes for adoptable pets.
Meant 2B Loved pet rescue in Cranbrook is temporarily pausing the intake of animals, as is Alberta Animal Rescue Crew Society (AARCS), as each organization struggles along with an increase of surrendered animals.
Meant 2B Loved is an entirely volunteer-run pet save society that operates across the East Kootenay region. It takes in surrendered animals with the goal of finding foster plus permanent homes.
Board member Stacie Johnson says that will since the pandemic has slowed, so have adoption and foster rates. The society has made the tough decision to stop taking in creatures since members have exhausted all of their resources.
“This is not a decision that we’ve made lightly by any means. We’ve had a huge increase in local surrenders and the particular amount of appropriate fosters we have has dropped right down, ” Manley said. “We had a surplus associated with fosters plus adopters during COVID, when everyone was home, and now it is the opposite. ”
Deanna Thompson, Executive Director of AARCS said her organization is facing similar challenges.
“Every shelter and rescue will be feeling it, ” Thompson said. “We saw the 200 per cent increase in adoption applications in 2020 compared to 2019, plus families came in droves to foster pets. By August 2022, not only have all of us gone back to pre-COVID numbers, but we are usually seeing a further decrease in applications from 2019.
“People returning in order to work, or a change of life they couldn’t see coming, including the particular effects inflation, are forcing people to give up their pets at higher prices. We are also seeing behavioural concerns with dogs that grew up during the pandemic who are under-socialized, requiring extensive and time-consuming rehabilitation. ”
“Couple that with an increase within animals in need, plus we’ve hit a capacity within the animal welfare system that we haven’t seen in years. ”
One of the best ways to help, Johnson said, is to donate to your local recovery society.
“We are so grateful to our current fosters who have been so patient with us and the pets. And to the particular other businesses that have helped us out as well, ” Johnson said.
Meanwhile, the parallel shortage of available veterinary care could result in some animals not being spayed or neutered.
“This could produce unwanted offspring or even contribute in order to surrenders if people cannot afford veterinary care, ” Thompson said.
Johnson stated part of their own reason for suspending intakes is usually to ensure they aren’t overwhelming vets. She hopes the pause can be lifted inside 4-6 weeks, adding that board users face verbal abuse and mounting anxiety.
“We rescue animals, that’s our number one priority – making sure they are healthy, plus finding them a good home. ”
READ: Eastern Kootenay veterinarians form cooperative to offer more emergency services
READ: Veterinarians facing intense pressure through pandemic dog boom
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