'We're at capacity': Animal rescue agencies on Vancouver Island overwhelmed as people return to office
Throughout the pandemic, many people started working from home, and in the process decided to get a pet. Now, many are returning to the office, and with that animals are once again being surrendered to shelters.
Eight new puppies have just arrived at the Victoria Humane Society in Saanich from a remote community in British Columbia.
"We’re seeing a lot of puppies, kittens, adults dogs, that normally we wouldn’t have seen before because we would have spayed and neutered," said Penny Stone, executive director of the Victoria Humane Society.
Many remote communities have been closed to outsiders due to COVID-19. Because of that, the Victoria Humane Society hasn’t been able to get into those communities to run its neutering programs.
That program controls the animal population in those remote communities.
Eight new puppies have just arrived at the Victoria Humane Society from a remote community in B.C.: Nov. 10, 2021 (CTV News)
"I would say we’re probably set back 10 years in where we were before (pre-pandemic) because it’s just blown up," said Stone.
The Humane Society is at 100 per cent capacity due to many people returning unwanted pets that were adopted during the pandemic and because of it's suspended neutering programs in those remote communities.
It’s currently housing 100 dogs and puppies and almost 300 cats and kittens. The animals are spread out throughout 350 foster families.
"Over the last few months we’ve had a lot of people contacting us to surrender, specifically with the excuse that they are going back to work and they don’t have time," said Amy McLaughlin, founder and operator of Amy’s Bunny Barn.
Amy’s Bunny Barn in Sooke is full. They have 56 bunnies in care and more than 20 on the waitlist.
"Bunnies are more abandoned than cats and dogs," said McLaughlin.
The big problem that McLaughlin is seeing now is that people are just abandoning their rabbits in parking lots around the Capital Region.
"Which is leading to colonies of rabbits because they have litters every 30 days," said McLaughlin.
Rehousing dogs and cats can be easier than rabbits, but you could imagine the challenges around rehousing a horse.
That’s a problem that the Humanity for Horses Foundation in Duncan, B.C. is now faced with.
"Feed costs are skyrocketing," said Rebecca Sanesh, owner of the Humanity for Horses Foundation. "One, because of the drought, and two because of COVID.”
The rescue operation has 28 horses on its Duncan property. With the rising costs of shipping and hay, as well as some horse owners in Alberta who have lost their jobs, many have decided that they can no longer afford to own their horses.
Back at the Victoria Humane Society, those eight puppies are a few of the lucky one as there was room for them at the inn. Stone worries that many other unwanted animals could be falling through the cracks.
"We’re at capacity and the reality is, what happens to them when we can’t take them?"
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Half of Canadians have negative opinion of latest Liberal budget: poll
A new poll suggests the Liberals have not won over voters with their latest budget, though there is broad support for their plan to build millions of homes.
opinion Why you should protect your investments by naming a trusted contact person
Appointing a trusted person to help with financial obligations can give you peace of mind. In his personal finance column for CTVNews.ca, Christopher Liew outlines the key benefits of naming a confidant to take over your financial responsibilities, if the need ever arises.
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Canadian couple among tourists on sinking sailing boat tour abroad
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their “extremely dangerous” experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
Ottawa injects another $36M into vaccine injury compensation fund
The federal government has added $36.4 million to a program designed to support people who have been seriously injured or killed by vaccines since the end of 2020.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
An Ontario senior thought he called Geek Squad for help with his printer. Instead, he got scammed out of $25,000
An Ontario senior’s attempt to get technical help online led him into a spoofing scam where he lost $25,000. Now, he’s sharing his story to warn others.
Accused of burglary at stepmother's home, U.S. senator says she wanted her father's ashes: charges
A Minnesota state senator and former broadcast meteorologist told police that she broke into her stepmother's home because her stepmother refused to give her items of sentimental value from her late father, including his ashes, according to burglary charges filed Tuesday.
Twins from Toronto were Canada's top two female finishers at this year's Boston Marathon
When identical twin sisters Kim and Michelle Krezonoski were invited to compete against some of the world’s most elite female runners at last week’s Boston Marathon, they were in disbelief.