logo
Pet surrenders fuelled by affordability crisis, longer kitten seasons add to crunch for animal shelters

Pet surrenders fuelled by affordability crisis, longer kitten seasons add to crunch for animal shelters

By
With more than a month left to go before moving day, Montreal's animal shelters are already slammed with admissions and demands for help even before the summer influx of abandoned pets.
Several factors are contributing to the crunch, according to those on the front lines. Some people can't afford care for their pets because of the rising costs of living, others no longer want animals they adopted during the pandemic and the annual kitten season — when cats reproduce and birth rates soar — has been getting longer in recent years.
Refuge Animex, which is located in Montreal's Verdun neighbourhood, has received a lot of cat admissions since the beginning of April — earlier than usual. They generally take in more animals in May and June, ahead of the traditional July 1 moving day when many residential leases expire.
'We don't know if it's because they're moving,' said Brigitte Croteau, who is in charge of the adoption process and sits on board of directors of Refuge Animex. 'Or, a lot of people are telling us it's because of financial difficulties.'
Laurence Massé, executive director at the Montreal SPCA, pointed to pet owners not having the 'time, energy or money to take care of their animal.' Aside from higher costs of living, many furry companions adopted during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic are also being given up.
'Last year, it was a record year in terms of admissions and it was the highest level of admission in five years,' she said in a recent interview with The Gazette. 'And, unfortunately, we're seeing that that tendency as well this year.'
As the increase in both general affordability struggles and pet care expenses play a role in more abandonments, both organizations say they also bear the financial and emotional toll.
'I mean, people are having a hard time doing their groceries, so it's really, really hard,' Massé said.
Animal food and medication may be more expensive for individuals, but that also means they cost more for shelters, she added. The SPCA has 'seen an increase of heavy medical cases in the surrender of cats' because of high veterinarian fees.
That stress isn't lost on the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association.
'We know dang well the cost of veterinary medicine is going up,' said CVMA president Dr. Tim Arthur. 'We are terribly worried that we're leaving a lot of people behind and that's just not what we should be doing. But we're having a devil of a time trying to figure out, like, what do we do?'
Vets can hit economic walls with mounting expenses and sometimes 'end up in an ethical dilemma of, you know, I could fix that, but we can't afford to do this,' according to Arthur.
Refuge Animex is composed of volunteers and limited foster families. While they do the best they can, there is always more that needs to be done. The organization receives up to five emails per day requesting they take cats or kittens, Croteau said, but they don't have enough resources to do so.
'We get a lot of pressure because people are writing us. They want us to help, but we cannot always help,' she said, adding it's 'not easy.'
At the SPCA, cats top admissions. But in 2024, there was a 35-per-cent increase in the surrender of dogs and that number is growing.
'We're seeing that same tendency this year as well,' Massé said. 'So, unfortunately, people are surrendering more dogs than the previous year.'
Longer kitten seasons add to the crunch
Alongside those challenges, animal shelters are dealing with another emerging issue.
Montreal's kitten season typically began in mid-March or the beginning of April, but Massé said it 'has been two or three years that we (start) receiving our first kittens in February.' Last year, one newborn had lost part of his tail because it was frozen.
'We tend to see kittens arrive earlier and kitten season is longer than years before,' she said.
On its website, the SPCA says the birthing period for cats, which have prolific reproduction cycles, lasts longer because of climate change and entire unweaned and orphaned litters are 'left at the shelter every week.' They need constant care and attention to survive.
The SPCA took in 499 unweaned kittens in 2023 and 585 in 2024, with the peak spanning from spring to the end of fall. Massé said those high numbers could be because of a number of factors, including the SPCA being responsible for 15 of the city's 19 boroughs and often taking on cases from outside its territory.
'What we can say is for any kittens that are born outside, climate change can really help them to survive, since it's getting warmer earlier,' Massé said.
But between a longer kitten season and high admission levels 'we don't have any downtime,' Massé said.
At Animex, Croteau said this year's kitten season wasn't quite as early as recent years, but she believes that is probably because of back-to-back snowstorms in February.
'But we know that it doesn't mean anything because we see in the years before that we had more and more kittens appearing after Christmas,' she said. At Animex, foster families help cover food expenses, which can quickly add up to nearly $20 per day for a growing litter beginning to eat food.
The issue of longer kitten seasons hasn't been 'put on our radar' at the CVMA for now.
'If the humane societies are starting to see increased kitten numbers, there will be a delay before the veterinary profession finds out about it,' Arthur said. 'Because we don't, you know, outside of spaying and neutering, it's not a primary role that we're involved with.'
Arthur explained a cat's heat is triggered by photoperiods (duration of daylight) and that hasn't changed. There isn't much in terms of literary research yet to prove changing temperatures can lead to earlier reproduction cycles in felines, he added. But like Massé, Arthur suggested it's easier for them to survive outside as temperatures rise.
'Food is probably much more available and the better the nutritional status of the mother, the healthier the kittens and the higher survivability of the kittens. You have a set of kittens out there and you get into a snowstorm and ice for three days, it's questionable how many of those kittens are going to survive,' Arthur said. 'If that doesn't happen, then all of a sudden you've got more kittens on your doorstep.
'And, of course, the other factor: It's very hard to do a census of how many wild cats there are running around able to reproduce. But certainly if there's more stray cats, there's going to be more kittens.'
To curb overpopulation, both shelters stressed the need to sterilize cats. Croteau also called on owners not to let their felines roam outdoors. As one of two rescues in Verdun, she said it's already hard to meet the demands for help.
'We're going to have a lot of problems in 10 years when too many cats are outside,' she said.
Those on the front line of animal care and adoptions in the city say the best way Montrealers can help is by donating.
'We're living on donations, so we can't do anything that we do without donations,' Massé said.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

2 American fatalities on deadly day at Bahamas resort: Cops
2 American fatalities on deadly day at Bahamas resort: Cops

Toronto Sun

time6 hours ago

  • Toronto Sun

2 American fatalities on deadly day at Bahamas resort: Cops

Deaths of 79-year-old man, 74-year-old woman investigated as drownings Tourists take pictures after exiting Carnival's Mardi Gras cruise ship, docked in the bay of San Juan, Puerto Rico, Tuesday, Aug. 3, 2021, marking the first time a cruise ship visits the U.S. territory since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Photo by Carlos Giusti / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FILES Officials say two Americans are dead following apparent drownings in separate incidents at the same Bahamas resort. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account The drownings — involving a 79-year-old man and a 74-year-old woman — happened at Celebration Key, a new $600-million private resort for Carnival Cruise Line guests. The resort opened in July. 'Our lifeguards and medical team responded to two separate emergency incidents at Celebration Key on Friday — one in the lagoon and one at the beach. Sadly, both guests have passed away,' Carnival Cruise Line said in a statement issued on Saturday, per ABC News. One of the drowning victims was a passenger on the Carnival Cruise Line ship Mardi Gras while the other was a passenger aboard the Carnival Elation , the cruise line said. Read More Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Both victims were travelling with their families at the time, according to Carnival. 'Our thoughts and prayers are with the guests and their families and our care team is providing assistance,' the Carnival statement said. The Royal Bahamas Police Force told ABC News that it's leading the investigations into both deaths. A 79-year-old man became unresponsive just before noon on Friday while snorkeling off one of the Celebration Key beaches, the police statement said. 'A lifeguard assisted him from the water and CPR was administered, but to no avail. The male who is reported to be an American national was pronounced deceased by a medical doctors,' the statement said. RECOMMENDED VIDEO Carnival Cruise Lines said it is co-operating with law enforcement in the investigation of the deaths. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'We are saddened by the loss of our guests. We have trained lifeguards and medical professionals who respond promptly,' the company said. A few hours later at about 2:30 p.m. on Friday, a 74-year-old woman was found unresponsive in a swimming pool at the resort, according to police. A lifeguard pulled the woman from the water and performed CPR, but was not able to revive her. 'As a result, the female, who was reported to be an American national, was pronounced deceased by a medical doctors,' the police statement said. Autopsies were scheduled to be performed to determine the exact causes of death, according to police. The names of the tourists were not immediately released. Elsewhere on Saturday, a 63-year-old American was attacked by a shark around 1 p.m. while spearfishing off Big Grand Cay in the Bahamas, according to the Royal Bahamas Police force. The man, whose name was not released, was treated at a local clinic for what police described as 'severe injuries.' Police said he was airlifted to the U.S. for additional treatment. Sunshine Girls Sunshine Girls Columnists Crime Canada

Pope Leo XIV celebrates Mass for local homeless people, invites them to lunch at summer villa
Pope Leo XIV celebrates Mass for local homeless people, invites them to lunch at summer villa

Winnipeg Free Press

time2 days ago

  • Winnipeg Free Press

Pope Leo XIV celebrates Mass for local homeless people, invites them to lunch at summer villa

CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy (AP) — Pope Leo XIV spent the last Sunday of his summer vacation with several dozen homeless and poor people and the church volunteers who help them, celebrating a special Mass for them and inviting them into the Vatican's lakeside estate for a lunch of lasagna and roast veal. Leo celebrated Mass in the St. Mary sanctuary of Albano, near the papal summer retreat in Castel Gandolfo where he is vacationing. The Mass was attended by around 110 people cared for by the local Caritas church charity, and the volunteers who run the diocese's shelters, clinics and social service offices. In his homily, Leo celebrated the 'fire of charity' that had brought them together. 'And I encourage you not to distinguish between those who assist and those who are assisted, between those who seem to give and those who seem to receive, between those who appear poor and those who feel they have something to offer in terms of time, skills, and help,' he said. In the church, he said, everyone is poor and precious, and all share the same dignity. Leo, the former Robert Prevost, spent most of his adult life working with the poor people of Peru, first as an Augustinian missionary and then as bishop. Former parishioners and church workers say he greatly reinforced the work of the local Caritas charity, opening soup kitchens and shelters for migrants and rallying funds to build oxygen plants during the COVID-19 pandemic. Later Sunday, Leo was to preside over a luncheon with the guests at the Borgo Laudato Si', the Vatican's environmental educational center in the gardens of the papal villa in Castel Gandolfo. The center is named for Pope Francis' 2015 landmark environmental encyclical, Laudato Si (Praised Be). Sundays Kevin Rollason's Sunday newsletter honouring and remembering lives well-lived in Manitoba. According to the Albano diocese, local caterers were providing a menu of lasagna, eggplant parmesan and roast veal. For dessert, the menu called for fruit salad and sweets named for the pope, 'Dolce Leone.' ___ Rosa reported from Albano, Italy, and Winfield from Rome. ___ Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP's collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.

Westover: Summer childcare challenges parents
Westover: Summer childcare challenges parents

Ottawa Citizen

time4 days ago

  • Ottawa Citizen

Westover: Summer childcare challenges parents

Article content For many working parents, summer isn't the care-free respite we've been promised. It's more like a season of discontent. Article content It's like an impossible-to-assemble puzzle of disparate pieces that don't fit neatly together: childcare, work obligations, family well-being. Article content Article content The challenge is especially acute for parents of tweens and young teens. Too old for traditional daycare but too young for jobs, these 11- to 14-year-olds crave independence, yet default to couches and screens when left to their own devices (pun intended). Article content Article content This summer, the refrain I kept hearing from parents was: 'What are you doing with your kids?' Article content While our economy now runs on two-income households, our summer infrastructure hasn't caught up with this reality, leaving many families in a state of existential panic. The burden of untangling this Gordian Knot falls disproportionately on mothers; precisely the kind of invisible labour that has us awake at 3 a.m. frantically researching options or block-scheduling calendars before dawn. Article content And despite the best-laid plans and the most water-tight preparation, the available solutions are imperfect at best, out of reach at worst. Article content Traditional sleepaway camps offer that 'real summer experience,' but they're prohibitively expensive, book up months in advance, and often require lengthy stays. (This is why initiatives like Tim Horton's Camp Day matter so much. They extend opportunities to kids who would otherwise miss out.) Article content Article content Sports camps come with their own premium price tags. Even the more affordable city-run programs quickly add up over many weeks. And many of these programs typically run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. — hours misaligned with standard workdays. Parents must somehow cover the gaps at both ends, creating a daily logistical headache. To add insult to injury, oftentimes the kids don't want to be there, so the cost is financial and parental guilt is paid in interest. Article content Article content Even those who are counting down to a family vacation quickly discover two weeks away doesn't a summer make. Article content While we pay lip service to equity, and lament the COVID-era outflow of women in the workforce, we're not doing much to lighten the load.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store