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
'A beautiful soul': Funeral held for baby boy killed in wrong-way crash on Highway 401
A funeral was held on Wednesday for a three-month-old boy who died after being involved in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 in Whitby last week.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
Biden says he will stop sending bombs and artillery shells to Israel if they launch major invasion of Rafah
U.S. President Joe Biden said for the first time Wednesday he would halt shipments of American weapons to Israel, which he acknowledged have been used to kill civilians in Gaza, if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders a major invasion of the city of Rafah.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his brain more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.
What is whooping cough and should Canadians be concerned as Europe declares outbreak?
There is currently a whooping cough epidemic in Europe, with 10 times as many cases compared to the previous two years. While an outbreak has not been declared nationwide in Canada, whooping cough is regularly detected in the country.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
Quebec premier defends new museum on Quebecois nation after Indigenous criticism
Quebec Premier Francois Legault is defending his comments about a new history museum after he was accused by a prominent First Nations group of trying to erase their history.
B.C. theatre to pay $55K to neurodivergent actor in discrimination case
British Columbia's human rights tribunal has awarded a neurodigergent actor, who was diagnosed with sensory and learning disorders, more than $55,000 after finding that a Kelowna theatre company discriminated against him because of his disabilities.
Who's responsible for regulating cannabis stores operating under the sovereignty banner?
It's not quite clear who is supposed to be regulating so-called sovereign cannabis stores or even ensure they're benefiting Indigenous communities.