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 with an influx of surrendered animals.
Meant 2B Loved is an entirely volunteer-run pet rescue society that operates across the East Kootenay region. It takes in surrendered animals with the goal of finding foster and permanent homes.
Board member Stacie Johnson says that since the pandemic has slowed, so have adoption and foster rates. The society has made the tough decision to stop taking in animals since members have exhausted all of their resources.
sa国际传媒淭his is not a decision that wesa国际传媒檝e made lightly by any means. Wesa国际传媒檝e had a huge increase in local surrenders and the amount of suitable fosters we have has dropped right down,sa国际传媒� Johnson said. sa国际传媒淲e had a surplus of fosters and adopters during COVID, when everyone was home, and now it is the opposite.sa国际传媒�
Deanna Thompson, Executive Director of AARCS said her organization is facing similar challenges.
sa国际传媒淓very shelter and rescue is feeling it,sa国际传媒� Thompson said. sa国际传媒淲e saw a 200 per cent increase in adoption applications in 2020 compared to 2019, and families came in droves to foster pets. By August 2022, not only have we gone back to pre-COVID numbers, but we are seeing a further decrease in applications from 2019.
sa国际传媒淧eople returning to work, or a change of life they couldnsa国际传媒檛 see coming, including the effects inflation, are forcing people to give up their pets at higher rates. We are also seeing behavioural concerns with dogs that grew up during the pandemic who are under-socialized, requiring extensive and time-consuming rehabilitation.sa国际传媒�
sa国际传媒淐ouple that with an increase in animals in need, and wesa国际传媒檝e hit a capacity within the animal welfare system that we havensa国际传媒檛 seen in years.sa国际传媒�
One of the best ways to help, Johnson said, is to donate to your local rescue society.
sa国际传媒淲e are so grateful to our current fosters who have been so patient with us and the animals. And to the other organizations that have helped us out as well,sa国际传媒� Johnson said.
Meanwhile, a parallel shortage of available veterinary care could result in some animals not being spayed or neutered.
sa国际传媒淭his could produce unwanted offspring or contribute to surrenders if people cannot afford veterinary care,sa国际传媒� Thompson said.
Johnson said part of their reason for suspending intakes is to ensure they arensa国际传媒檛 overwhelming vets. She hopes the pause can be lifted in 4-6 weeks, adding that board members face verbal abuse and mounting anxiety.
sa国际传媒淲e rescue animals, thatsa国际传媒檚 our number one priority - making sure they are healthy, and finding them a good home.sa国际传媒�
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corey.bullock@cranbrooktownsman.com
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