Upcoming 'puppy party' event highlights influx of animal surrenders to Calgary Humane Society
The Calgary Humane Society hopes to spark more pet adoptions or fostering to curb the influx of pets that have come into its care.
The surge of surrenders prompted the society to pause all intakes in mid-August, but officials say while the situation has improved, more homes are needed to house the excess dogs, puppies, cats and kittens.
"The community came forward to help in terms of fostering and adopting. It's been helpful enough for us to slowly consider a few more animals to come in off that waitlist but we are still triaging a waitlist," said Anna-Lee Fitzsimmons, director of public relations for the Calgary Humane Society.
"We do still have animals waiting to come in here."
Fitzsimmons says 80 more households have joined their roster of fosters, allowing the animals a temporary home environment.
She says the pandemic has played a role in the current situation.
"People are back in the office, people are able to go on vacation again, so I think largely, what's happening is there are more animals and more puppies and kittens in the community than there are homes for."
The surge of surrenders prompted the society to pause all intakes in mid-August, but officials say while the situation has improved, more homes are needed to house the excess dogs, puppies, cats and kittens. (Calgary Humane Society)
PUPPIES, TOO
For those who may want to start by raising a puppy, 22 Australian Shepherd-crossed Poodles or "Aussie-doodles" are up for adoption.
Officials say they were surrendered after the breeder was evicted from a rental property near Calgary.
Prospective pooch parents can view the pups and other pets at an upcoming event.
"It's just kind of a fun community engagement style event where people can come in and meet all the puppies available for adoption and hopefully pick one to go home with," Fitzsimmons said.
The "Puppy Party" event runs from 2 to 5 p.m. on Friday at the Calgary Humane Society facility.
Jamie Proudfoot began fostering in June and says opening up her home to dogs in need of a fresh start has been rewarding.
"It is effort but it's such good effort and you feel so good, giving back. I would encourage it for anybody who is unsure if they want to have a dog yet."
"It's just such a rewarding thing to do, to know that you're helping set them up for their future when they end up with their permanent families and that you were able to give them some of that training and some of that learning and get them used to being a dog in a house."
Fitzsimmons also says pet ownership restrictions contribute to the number of surrenders, and is calling for more landlords to relax rules barring pets to reduce long-term factors for pet surrenders.
(Calgary Humane Society)
(Calgary Humane Society)
(Calgary Humane Society)
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Baby, grandparents among 4 people killed in wrong-way police chase on Ontario's Hwy. 401
A police chase which started with a liquor store robbery in Bowmanville Monday night ended in tragedy some 20 minutes later when a suspect fleeing police entered Highway 401 in the wrong direction and caused a pileup which killed an infant and the child's grandparents, as well as the suspect, investigators say.
McGill requests 'police assistance' over pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University says it has 'requested police assistance' about the pro-Palestinian encampment on its lower field.
Freeland tables motion previewing omnibus budget bill
Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland will be tabling yet another omnibus bill to pass the sweeping range of measures promised in her April 16 federal budget.
Judge holds Trump in contempt, fines him US$9,000 and raises threat of jail in hush money trial
Donald Trump was held in contempt of court Tuesday and fined US$9,000 for repeatedly violating a gag order that barred him from making public statements about witnesses, jurors and some others connected to his New York hush money case. If he does it again, the judge warned, he could be jailed.
Air Canada walks back new seat selection policy change after backlash
Air Canada has paused a new seat selection fee for travellers booked on the lowest fares just days after implementing it.
Court upholds Milwaukee police officer's firing for posting racist memes after Sterling Brown arrest
The Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that a former Milwaukee police officer was properly fired for posting racist memes related to the arrest of an NBA player that triggered a public outcry.
New cancer treatment approved, but not everyone thinks it's what's best for patients
A new cancer treatment recently approved in Canada promises to cut treatment time down to just minutes, but experts have differing opinions on whether it's what's best for patients.
T. rex is at the centre of a debate over dinosaur intelligence
Surmising even the physical appearance of a dinosaur - or any extinct animal - based on its fossils is a tricky proposition, with so many uncertainties involved. Assessing a dinosaur's intelligence, considering the innumerable factors contributing to that trait, is exponentially more difficult.
Province boots mayor and council in small northern Ont. town out of office
An ongoing municipal strike, court battles and revolt by half of council has prompted the province to oust the mayor and council in Black River-Matheson.