Southern Alberta animal shelters overrun with abandoned pets
Animal shelters across the province are finding themselves frequently at capacity -- or more.
Making things worse is a rise of pet owners abandoning or surrendering their pets.
The Pincher Creek Humane Society got a nasty surprise earlier this week: Monday, staff arrived at work to discover two abandoned huskies tied to the shelter door.
Just a few hours later, three more dogs arrived before someone else showed up with a puppy telling staff they had to take it or the dog was going to the dump.
The shelter is currently housing 25 dogs despite only being designed for 10.
“Pretty much got out of control quickly because we do have a mom with 10 puppies here. We are way over as it is, but it's just the concern of viruses now. Bio-security is a huge thing for us right now,” said Kelly Lepine with the Pincher Creek Humane Society.
More and more people struggling to afford keeping their pets.
It's a similar story at the Claresholm Animal Rescue Society.
They've had to turn dogs away due to overcrowding.
Staff are even needing to take dogs home over night to make room.
“Our abandons and surrenders are humongous, and we're only a small shelter. We only have room for seven dogs and maybe 35 or 40 cats. On average per month I’m turning down between 30 and 40 dogs,” said Lorraine Norgard with the Claresholm Animal Rescue Society.
One of the biggest reasons behind this wave of abandonments is the cost of living.
One of the biggest reasons behind this wave of abandonments is the cost of living.
More and more people struggling to afford keeping their pets.
Norgard said “a lot of people can't afford to feed their family so how do they feed a dog or a cat?”
Resources are available for people struggling to take care of their pets.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Hackers release corporate data stolen from London Drugs
Retailer London Drugs says cybercriminals who stole files from its corporate head office last month have released some of the data after it refused to pay a ransom.
Toronto man falls off his chair after seeing $70M Lotto Max win in his bank account
A Toronto man who won $70 million in a recent Lotto Max draw literally fell off his chair when he saw the funds in his bank account.
Montreal-area high school students protest 'sexist' dress code
Approximately 50 Montreal-area students — the vast majority of them female — were suspended Wednesday after their school deemed the shorts they were wearing were too short. On Thursday, several students staged a walk-out to protest what they believe is a "sexist" dress code that unfairly targets girls.
'Looking over our shoulders': A killing looms large in a little B.C. town
Something shifted in the pretty little village of Lumby, B.C., after Tatjana Stefanski vanished. It used to be the sort of place where parents let their kids roam free or play in the local creek, but everything has changed.
'I won't stop,' Celine Dion says in trailer for upcoming doc about her health woes
Celine Dion's fans are getting a first glimpse of the superstar's struggle with a rare neurological disorder in an emotional trailer for an upcoming documentary about her career and life.
Hidden risks: Why ultra-processed food may be hurting our brains
Ultra-processed foods are quick, convenient and hard to avoid, but there is growing evidence that eating these products can have an impact on brain health, leading to cognitive decline and stroke.
What is 'slapped cheek disease' and should parents be concerned?
Despite its rough name, experts say most cases of 'slapped cheek disease' are mild and not a cause for concern.
Tim Meadows pledges not to shave until the Oilers win the cup, who are the team's other famous fans?
An unlikely celebrity emerged from social media to cheer on the Edmonton Oilers as they face the Dallas Stars tonight in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals.
American Airlines retreats after blaming a 9-year-old for not seeing a hidden camera in a lavatory
American Airlines has distanced itself from a court filing in which the carrier said a nine-year-old girl should have noticed there was a camera taped to the seat of an airplane lavatory.