P.E.I. Pets Paying the Price for Owners' New Lives in Alberta
P.E.I. Humane Society
Monday, January 15, 2007
Charlottetown, PE – It’s a well established fact that many Islanders have chosen to leave the province in search of employment and a new life in Alberta. Unfortunately, taking a family pet along is often not included in those plans. The P.E.I. Humane Society has noticed a significant increase in the number of companion animals being surrendered to the Shelter for the sole reason that the owners are moving to Alberta and either cannot or will not take the animals with them.“We’re hearing the same thing every day, and sometimes more than once, explains Shelter Manager Dr. Els Cawthorn. “Right now, ‘Moving’ is one of the main reasons animals are surrendered to us. But we recognize there aren’t a lot of options available to owners. It’s almost impossible to transport pets by air in winter, not to mention the very competitive housing market in Alberta. I understand many landlords won’t even consider a tenant who has pets. So, yes, many of these animals are either left with family or friends on P.E.I. or surrendered to the care of the Humane Society.”
The P.E.I. Humane Society is the only animal shelter operating on the Island. As long as space permits, it maintains an open-door policy to accept all companion animals brought to its doors. With no government funding and a fixed number of available kennels in the Shelter, the Society currently has no choice but to do the best it can within its limitations.
Judo and Jody are two of the Shelter’s latest arrivals. Judo is a 4-year old German Shepherd/ Rottweiller mix and Jody is a 2-year old Boxer/Border Collie mix. The doggie duo was surrendered to the Shelter as their owners were also heading west and had decided it was impossible to take them along. Within hours of their surrender, Shelter staff realized these large dogs were clearly inseparable friends, happiest in the company of the other.
Kennel cough is a constant risk in a Shelter and both dogs have now shown symptoms of this stubborn but seldom fatal illness. The dogs have been moved off the Adoption Floor to an isolation area to stop the potential spread of the disease. Due to the infectious nature of the disease, dogs with kennel cough usually are only released to homes where no other dogs live. Finding a foster home for two recuperating dogs is challenging. And while life in a Shelter kennel is clean and safe, it can cause additional stress for an animal as it’s not like life in a home environment. Judo has started to show signs of this stress. Double adoptions of large dogs are rare, so in order to create some incentive for potential adopters, the dogs are being offered at a reduced adoption rate of $250.00 for both animals.
It is a Shelter policy that all animals selected for the Adoption program remain available for adoption as long as they remain happy and healthy. Some may not be so fortunate; particularly harder-to-place animals that are elderly or unable to adapt to life in the Shelter.
“Right now we’re asking anyone contemplating a new pet to “Make Adoption Your First Option”, adds Executive Director, Heather Irving. “We’re really counting on those Islanders who still call P.E.I. home to do what they do best – open up their hearts and their homes to help where it’s needed most.”
For more information on the P.E.I. Humane Society and its many adoptable pets, including Judo and Jody, log on to www.peihumanesociety.com or call 902-892-1190.
For more information, please contact:
Kelly Mullaly
Development Coordinator
P.E.I. Humane Society
902-892-1190
kmullaly@peihumanesociety.com
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The P.E.I. Humane Society is the only Humane Society or SPCA working in Prince Edward Island. To ensure your donations go to help the animals in P.E.I., your contribution should be made directly to the P.E.I. Humane Society. The P.E.I. Humane Society does not receive funds from the Humane Society of Canada or the Canadian SPCA (Montreal).
