The huge increase in pet ownership has now led to illegal action
People bringing their pets to shelters and trying to pass them off as stray is part of a growing trend of surrendering and abandoning pets, which is putting a strain on shelters all over Alberta.
It’s the latest problem caused by the huge number of people who now work from home and have a furry friend. Because of this, there are more animals waiting for owners who never come.
Sgt. Brianne Grey, who works at Edmonton’s Animal Care and Control Centre, said, “We often see animals that have been left behind.”
“It could be animals left at a rental property after the renter has been kicked out; animals left without food, water, or shelter for more than 24 hours; or animals left at a boarding facility or daycare after their owners were supposed to pick them up.”
But Grey said that fewer and fewer cats, dogs, baby bunnies, and reptiles are being claimed. This has a ripple effect on all of Alberta’s shelters, which are all full to overflowing.
People who try to give away their own animals but are lying about it are often caught because the animals are microchipped.
A law in Edmonton says that you can’t give a police officer false or misleading information. Grey said that she has been giving tickets to people who give up their pets and say they are strays every week.
“It’s not the right way to do this because an animal is left here waiting for someone who will never come,” said Grey. “If you are honest and open with your information, we might be able to connect you with some resources or give you more information.”
In addition to pets being dumped, there are also owners who want to give up their own animals.
Grey said that one adult cat that was found outside without a tag at the end of February had frostbite, which caused him to lose his ears and part of his tail.
Grey said that the doctors are working to help the cat with blue eyes get better.
Under the Animal Protection Act of Alberta, it is a crime to not give an animal a good place to live. If a pet owner leaves their animal outside without food or water, shelter, protection from getting hurt, or protection from extreme temperatures, the owner could be fined up to $20,000 or be banned from owning animals for life.
The Alberta SPCA also looks into cases of animal abuse and neglect, like when two kittens were found in a child’s backpack on the edge of St. Albert last month.
“This is a hard thing to pin down… People who want to give up their pets are calling our team more and more,” “Dan Kobe, a spokesman for the Alberta SPCA, said.
Amanda Annetts, an intake coordinator for the Second Chance Animal Rescue Society (SCARS) in Morinville, Alberta, said that animal abandonment in rural parts of the province is “a crisis.”
The rescue center in Morinville, which is about 40 kilometers north of Edmonton, opened in October to meet the growing number of animals that people wanted to give up. The center was already full after a week.
“We don’t have any room and are already at 110% capacity, but we can’t say no. We’re lucky that people have helped, and there are now foster homes,” Annette said.
Annetts said that the problem of pets being given up or left behind is made worse by the fact that people in rural areas don’t have easy access to veterinary care and education about pet ownership.
“Every day, between 10 and 15 people ask us to help animals in need,” Annetts said. “They might have a dog that they can’t keep and no longer want. A lot of cats are being given up, mostly because of simple problems like urinary tract infections (UTIs).”
Annetts said that even expensive pets and breeds are affected.
She said, “A Great Dane came in as a “stray” and was in terrible shape.”
“It just goes to show that even bred dogs are now being left in these terrible conditions.”