Animal shelters in provinces nationwide are filled to overflowing with animals, and Saskatchewan is no exception.
Many facilities in Saskatchewan have had to close their doors, turning away animals in need because they don’t have the space or resources to help.
“We are at capacity, and normally, at this point, we would be looking to transfer, but it’s really hard to find a rescue that we can transfer to,” Desiree Lalonde with the Meadow Lake Humane Society in Saskatchewan told CBC News.
Overcrowding in animal shelters started after the COVID-19 pandemic. During the lockdown, people were separated from their friends, family, and loved ones and desperately searched for companionship.
That companionship often came in the form of an adorable cat or dog. However, after the pandemic, pet surrenders at animal shelters increased dramatically.
The most common reasons pet owners surrender their pets are not having the money or time or not wanting to take care of them anymore. Pets aren’t disposable objects; they are family.
“Do not abandon them when you move away. Do not abandon them if something in your life happens that makes it a bit more difficult. Stick with the animal. You made a commitment and a responsibility to them,” asked Lalonde with a heavy heart.
Canada is well known for its no-kill shelters, but some overcrowded animal shelters are making the difficult choice to euthanize hard-to-adopt animals to make room. Others, like the Cochrane and Area Humane Society, will house a dog for as long as it takes for adoption, with a recent dog, Paddy, living at the shelter for 729 days before being adopted!
In 2015, over 15,000 cats and almost 3,000 dogs were euthanized at animal shelters. This number includes sick animals or those with untreatable conditions.
The thought of being abandoned in a loud, crowded place full of unfamiliar faces only to be put down is tragic, but that’s all it is for us – a thought. These animals are experiencing this nightmare firsthand.
A nightmare that Cherly Breans, a communications director with the Canadian Wings of Rescue (CWOR), wants to help bring to an end for Saskatchewan’s shelter animals.
Lending A Paw
Alberta and Saskatchewan have long supported one another. When Fort McMurry was ravaged by wildfires in 2016, Saskatchewan reached out with open arms.
We share a mutual aid agreement with Saskatchewan. At the start of this year, the province sent over 150 megawatts of electricity to Alberta to prevent rotating blackouts caused by extreme cold.
At the same time, Saskatchewan imported over 290 megawatts of electricity from Manitoba to keep its lights on. Thanks to CWOR, our province’s relationship with Saskatchewan is once again in the spotlight.
CWOR is a volunteer-run, federally registered charity that provides domestic transport for Canadian animal rescue groups, shelters, and rehabilitation centres.
In July, a volunteer CWOR pilot flew six young mixed-breed puppies from La Ronge, Saskatchewan, to Springbank in Calgary for critical veterinary care.
Breans said the flight was 45 minutes long, and most dogs slept through it.
“It is not common that we have up to six dogs all together, but they were quite comfortable with each other. And the pilot, who had volunteered, had graciously had enough room…So it was a nice fit,” she said.
After receiving their treatment, the puppies, which look like husky mixes, were sent to foster homes in the area. Their names are Lola, Lexi, Milly, Ryda, Tilly, and Poplar.
Ryda has already been adopted, and Milly is still recovering, but the rest of the gang is ready to find their forever home with the help of Heart Mountain Rescue in Exshaw.
Alberta also has its hands full dealing with a growing wave of surrenders. Saving Grace Animal Society, an overcapacity animal rescue, claims money is the number one reason for surrender in Alberta.
Unfortunately, the financial burden on pet owners who surrender their pets doesn’t disappear. Instead, it is placed in the shelters that take these animals in.
Even something as simple as food is a significant expense for rescues and shelters. In 2022, the Edmonton Humane Society used almost 28,000 pounds of food for dogs in its care, which cost a pretty penny.
Organizations like CWOR and people like Breans are doing what they can to help animals in need, but the problem won’t disappear until we crack down on irresponsible pet ownership.
