As many Ontario residents continue to deal with affordability, economic and housing issues, animal welfare organizations are feeling the impacts as well.
The Niagara SPCA and Humane Society recently sounded the alarm after the non-profit organization rescued 76 abandoned cats in just four days, leaving staff and volunteers overwhelmed at times.
“We are at capacity, so that’s come down from a couple of weeks ago, but it can change at any moment,” Amelia Canto, the organization’s CEO, told CityNews.
“They came in boxes and crates … one was on a corner … in Niagara Falls, and the other was in a (Welland) park.
In recent weeks, Canto said there have been heartbreaking instances where staff and volunteers located pets alone.
“We had a situation where nine cats were found in a box, and that was due to an eviction … they just put them in a box. We ended up finding them,” she said.
“We’ve had Tupperware, Rubbermaid Tupperware containers with lids on them and cats inside.”
Canto also referred to a story shared on the organization’s Instagram account that got a lot of attention.
“When we saw, for instance, 14 female cats in that wire crate with a note that said that someone couldn’t look after them any longer, that really struck a chord with us,” she said.
The incident resulted in a “tremendous amount of support in various ways,” Canto said, including needed donations of food and money.
“We’re seeing housing problems that can affect pet ownership,” she said, referring to the jump in animals being found.
“There’s also the cost of living, so just keeping pets fed and having litter and other supplies for them is really challenging for people right now, and unfortunately, they’re having to make really difficult choices.”
Canto said the influx is also weighing heavily on staff and volunteers.
“Compassion fatigue is something that we look out for in this field,” she said.
“Seeing this day after day is hard because the people who are here are very passionate about what they do. They really love animals and care for animals.”
Kristina Pocrnic owns Ruffin’s Pet Centre in Welland. Canto said Pocrnic was among the community members who answered the call for assistance, donating two cases of kitten milk replacement.
“Niagara, I have to say, has a huge animal-loving population, and when there’s a need, they step up big time,” Pocrnic told CityNews.
“(I) try not to judge initially because everybody has their story and we’re all struggling in one way or another.
“I don’t think I would ever give up my pet, but at the same time, I’ve never been that hard done by that I would have to. So you just want to help them all and you want to take them all home, but you can’t.”
She said in the past year, there has been a change in customers’ buying habits due to economic challenges seen in Ontario and elsewhere in Canada.
“Last year when we first opened, the luxury items … the toys and things like that, we sold quite a few and then now we notice that that’s being pulled back, and people are just going with the essentials and food,” Pocrnic said.
“Let’s say things are tight and you want something that is still a great food for your pet or a great product, we can accommodate for that and we’ll try to find something that fits your budget.”
She said non-profit welfare and rescue organizations across Ontario perform vital work and need help to keep going.
“If there’s nowhere safe for them to go, they end up as prey animals,” Pocrnic said.
Staff with the Toronto Humane Society (THS) said they have seen the challenges being experienced by the Niagara SPCA and Humane Society as well, but not necessarily to the same extent.
“People are feeling the pressure of cost of living, access to care, housing insecurity; those are all common things that our community members and pet guardians are facing,” Melissa Shupack, the director of animal sheltering with THS, told CityNews.
“I do think it is sort of that desperation that pet guardians or people are finding themselves in and not knowing where to turn, or potentially feeling at a loss or guilt or shame with the idea of that they need help, and we want to try and be that sort of support and welcoming place for them.”
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Shupack said some people have expressed fears of judgment and being stigmatized as reasons for not reaching out sooner for assistance.
“I think that has historically been sort of this idea that people are in bad positions that they then therefore don’t deserve their pet, or that if they come and seek help, they’re going to be punished in some way,” she said.
“We’re really trying to shift as an industry and recognize that we want to work with families and keep them together and be a support system and be a community hub and accessible and engaging in that way.”
Pocrnic echoed the sentiment expressed by Shupack.
“A conversation goes a long way, so basically tell anybody you can and then someone might be able to step up and help you out in one way or another,” she said.
All three advocates highlighted the many benefits of having pets, if possible. There was also a plea by the humane societies to consider adopting older animals to have a better quality of life and to think about adopting less in-demand yet loving pets like rabbits.
“They’re a source of sort of love, entertainment, enrichment from the human side. So you’re playing with that animal, they’re getting enrichment,” Shupack said.
Canto said the Niagara SPCA and Humane Society is working to keep addressing concerns about pet affordability. She said they offer low-cost spay and neuter services. Later this year, Canto said a new low-cost, veterinary wellness clinic will be opening as those expenses are often cited as obstacles to having pets.
Shupack noted the Toronto Humane Society has a suite of programs to help, like a pet food bank, temporary rehoming, pet behavioural support, accessible veterinary care, and donation days where community members in need can come pick up a variety of pet care items.
They both said that while their organizations are desperate for monetary donations, they can also use non-financial support, such as donations of pet food and supplies. Volunteers are also needed to help care for the animals being sheltered. The organizations are hoping people can spread the word about the current needs.
Meanwhile, there will be a pet adoption event at Pocrnic’s store (652 River Rd.) on Saturday between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. THS will also be holding its biggest annual event and celebration, Paws in the Park, at its headquarters located at 11 River St. The next THS community donation day will be held on Aug. 27 between 9 a.m. and 12 p.m.
