Manitoulin Pet Rescue trying to cope with influx of surrendered animals

A registered non-profit group that helps animals in need located on Manitoulin Island says it has been overwhelmed dealing with a large increase of dogs and cats being abandoned.

Manitoulin Pet Rescue has been saving animals since its inception in 2015.

Close to 400 dogs and puppies have come through the rescue and over 550 cats and kittens.

The volunteers said lately, they are feeling overwhelmed and burned out after seeing so many pets being abandoned or surrendered by their owners.

“Both emotionally, physically financially. We all lose sleep at night over these animals and the ones that we know need to come into care,” said Carly Valiente, a volunteer and the dog intake and adoption coordinator with Manitoulin Pet Rescue.

“Sometimes having to say no, and the stress of saying no, and the consequence of saying no, if we don’t have space for an animal.”

The cat intake and adoption coordinator with the group, Kathy Jewell, said numbers are higher than they’ve ever been.

“Everyday I’m alerted to cats that are strays in the community, female cats with litters of kittens, people wanting to surrender, there’s been a lot of abandoned cats this year,” said Jewell.

“I used to get cycles where in the spring time we’d have lots, we’ve gone into December with only a couple adult cats and now we’re going into December with lots of kittens and that’s unprecedented.”The cat intake and adoption coordinator with the group told CTV News intake numbers for cats and kittens are higher than they have ever been. (Supplied)Valiente said it’s unfortunately become a regular occurrence.

“Just about three or four days ago, a homeless dog came across my radar that literally had no home, it was just left, the owners just moved away,” she added.

“Just in the last couple of months I can think of four that have just been dumped on various parts of Manitoulin.”The dog intake and adoption coordinator with Manitoulin Pet Rescue told CTV News they are having to turn animals away because they do not have space for them. (Supplied)The group added that in the near future it’s hoping to receive government funding to help find a facility to house animals in need on the island, especially if the numbers continue to climb.

“We have so many incredibly dedicated fosters and volunteers who would absolutely love to visit the shelter, help our animals, walk the dogs, feed them ... that is not an issue by any means but we just need a facility,” said Valiente.

In the meantime, without a facility, the rescue group said with the large influx of animals, it’s currently in need of a number of foster homes, as well as donations of cat and dog food or monetary contributions.

For those interested in helping out, you can contact the Manitoulin Pet Rescue group on Facebook.