LL – The pet overpopulation of Ontario has reached crisis levels, according to displays in the Cornwall shelter of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. The result: thousands of dogs and cats are ending up on the streets, or roaming the countryside, abandoned, abused, often hungry and frightened.
For many, the SPCA, like the one in Cornwall, constitutes their very last hope. They must turn to dedicated people, working together, who try and provide the loving care these animals need.
The head office of the SPCA is in Newmarket: all Ontario SPCA branches are managed from there. Investigators and professional shelter staff are salaried employees, who undergo extensive training, which is updated yearly. There are also independent humane affiliates which operate in larger cities like Ottawa or Kingston.
Working along side these professional employees are committed volunteers of all ages.
During interviews on February 25 and March 5, Carol Link, branch manager of the Cornwall SPCA, discussed the role and responsibilities of the SPCA in SD&G/Prescott-Russell.
“One of the saddest reasons we must take in some pets occurs when cats and dogs (often senior citizens themselves) must be left with us by their elderly owners,” Link said. “It is really heart-wrenching to see this separation. But often a no-pet policy exists at retirement homes, nursing homes or long term care facilities. If no family members can take the pet, many seniors do the only thing they can: they bring their old friends to us.”
“In the same way,” Carol Link, explained, “many people these days are facing job losses. Money is suddenly very tight. No matter how much a dog or cat is loved, there may no longer be spare funds for food or vets. These families are deeply concerned for the well being of their pets: surrendering them to our care is often the only solution they can see.”
Sadly there are other reasons why many animals must be rescued by the SPCA.
Strays are brought in regularly.
And animals suffering abuse and neglect must be removed from those situations as soon as possible. Trauma for an abused animal can be devastating even after it has been rescued.
The SPCA for Stormont, Dundas & Glengarry/Prescott-Russell employs two full time, trained investigators. They look into harmful reports involving any kind of animal from livestock to birds. Since these inspectors can lay charges, under the OSPCA Act, they must also spend a great deal of time in court.
“It is important that the message get out to people, that they must be accountable for their actions,” Link said. “The inspectors also educate people on changing laws and what is, and is not, acceptable animal treatment. And we absolutely want people to call 310SPCA if they see or suspect cases of abuse. It is always better to act, to alert us to look into a situation, and to help us to prevent an animal’s suffering.”
There are varied and long term demands on all humane societies. Where does funding to support safe, warm buildings, to feed and house animals, and to provide veterinarian care, come from?
There is no government funding. The shelter in Cornwall, for example, operates through donations and fundraising.
“We ask for a donation if an owned animal is left with us,” Link said, “but ours is also an open-door policy: if people cannot afford a donation, we take the animal anyway. When a family decides to adopt a pet, we ask $340 for a dog and $180 for a cat. This includes neutering, first vaccinations, de-worming, flea and tick control, the insertion of microchips and six free weeks of pet insurance.” Responsible neutering remains the surest way to prevent over population and potential abuse or abandonment.
Fundraising is essential to the survival of the SPCA.
National Cupcake Day, originally organized in 2014 by 85 societies and animal rescues, has proven to be a very positive fundraiser. This year, on February 23, individuals, area businesses, schools and service groups were invited to bake and sell cupcakes, and then to donate the proceeds to the SPCA of their choice.
“We had an overwhelming response to Cupcake Day this year,” said Carol Link. “In 2014, we raised $5,000 for our shelter, but I think the local totals (funds are still coming in) will be even higher this year. And the money raised in our area, stays in our area. People were also able to go on line this year to support us.”
The SPCA sends representatives out to schools, clubs, day cares and church groups, anywhere they are asked to go, to make presentations and talk to people about the ongoing need for the humane society and the work it does in a community. If possible, representatives will take shelter dogs to an event. The hope is to encourage more organizations to help with funding.
“We welcome the community getting to know where funds are going, and being able to ask us questions. And it’s especially nice,” Link added, “when an animal needing a home is adopted at one of these presentations.”
Recently the Royal Canin company has come in as a partner with the SPCA to provide food for shelter animals. But the SPCA must rely on the public for many necessities including such things as bedding, blankets, cat litter, and other food stuffs. The need for volunteers and for steady financial support is on-going at every Society shelter.
Fostering is another way the public helps the SPCA.
“We foster to adopt,” Link said. “Animals who are too young may go to a loving home for a time until they are old enough to neuter and be offered for adoption. Fostering cares for nursing mothers, or simply gives a nervous or timid dog time for socialization, to make it readier to share a new home.”
“We have no time limits on how long an animal can stay at our shelter,” Link said. “ Pets are evaluated their first five days at the shelter before they are available to adopt. If a pet is not finding a home with us, we can transfer it to another shelter, where it may have more success. If an animal comes to us desperately ill, or so badly injured that recovery is not possible, then we must sometimes make the humane decision.”
But the goal of the SPCA is to find loving, forever homes for all the animals in care. “If people need a pet, we’re the shelter to see,” Link said.
The SPCA, however, stresses responsible adoption. People should always think long and hard before they adopt; they need to assess their family life styles and to ask tough questions. Possible adopters should study the breed they are considering, its characteristics and needs. An animal is a living, loving creature that should not face abandonment or cruelty because people have made a bad decision.
“Adopt-A-Pet is a website that might help families find dogs that best suit their personalities and lifestyles,” Link explained. “People can pull up the page on our site and match up colour coded charts featuring animals in our care. For example, green might indicate a busy, active animal, while purple could indicate a more laid back, placid dog. It’s lots of fun, and in no way limits an adopter’s choices.”
Not even the gentle and understanding care provided by SPCA staff and volunteers can truly compete with a forever home, and a loving family, for a dog or cat.
The ultimate goal of all SPCAs is to find themselves with empty cages and pens: they want everyone to have “gone home.”
Phone the shelter at 613-936-0072. Visit the shelter in person at 550 Boundary Road, Cornwall.
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