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.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Quebec nurse had to clean up after husband's death in Montreal hospital
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.
Northern Ont. lawyer who abandoned clients in child protection cases disbarred
A North Bay, Ont., lawyer who abandoned 15 clients – many of them child protection cases – has lost his licence to practise law.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Maple Leafs fall to Bruins in Game 3, trail series 2-1
Brad Marchand scored twice, including the winner in the third period, and added an assist as the Boston Bruins downed the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-2 to take a 2-1 lead in their first-round playoff series Wednesday
Cuban government apologizes to Montreal-area family after delivering wrong body
Cuba's foreign affairs minister has apologized to a Montreal-area family after they were sent the wrong body following the death of a loved one.
'It was instant karma': Viral video captures failed theft attempt in Nanaimo, B.C.
Mounties in Nanaimo, B.C., say two late-night revellers are lucky their allegedly drunken antics weren't reported to police after security cameras captured the men trying to steal a heavy sign from a downtown business.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
New Indigenous loan guarantee program a 'really big deal,' Freeland says at Toronto conference
Canada's Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland was among the 1,700 delegates attending the two-day First Nations Major Projects Coalition (FNMPC) conference that concluded Tuesday in Toronto.
'Life was not fair to him': Daughter of N.B. man exonerated of murder remembers him as a kind soul
The daughter of a New Brunswick man recently exonerated from murder, is remembering her father as somebody who, despite a wrongful conviction, never became bitter or angry.