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
Blaine Higgs 'furious' over sexual education presentation
New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs has shared his anger on social media over a presentation in at least four high schools.
Grayson Murray's parents say the two-time PGA Tour winner died of suicide
Grayson Murray's parents said Sunday their 30-year-old son took his own life, just one day after he withdrew from a PGA Tour event.
The dreams of a 60-year-old beauty contestant come to an abrupt end in Argentina
A 60-year-old woman saw her dreams of becoming the oldest Miss Universe contestant in history melt away in a haze of sequins and selfies Saturday at Argentina’s annual beauty pageant.
North Korea informs Japan of a plan to launch military spy satellite
North Korea has told Japan it plans to launch a satellite by early next week, an apparent effort to put its second military spy satellite into orbit.
2 died in plane crash near Squamish, B.C., police confirm
Two people died after a plane went down in a remote area near Squamish, B.C. on Friday, authorities have confirmed.
Driver, 18, gets $3,000 ticket, 32 demerit points after speeding on Laval boulevard
A young driver received a hefty fine from Laval police after they say he was driving nearly 100 km/h over the posted speed limit.
Are you a loud snorer? You could have sleep apnea
You'll have a lot more energy throughout the day if you get a good night's sleep, but not everyone does due to a medical condition.
At least 15 dead after severe weather carves path of ruin across multiple U.S. states in the South
Powerful storms killed at least 15 people and left a wide trail of destruction Sunday across Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas during the latest deadly weather to strike the central U.S.
Some birds may use 'mental time travel,' study finds
Real quick — what did you have for lunch yesterday? Were you with anyone? Where were you? Can you picture the scene? The ability to remember things that happened to you in the past, especially to go back and recall little incidental details, is a hallmark of what psychologists call episodic memory — and new research indicates that it’s an ability humans may share with birds called Eurasian jays.