Sheltering in Place

Local animal rescues and charities with pets in need of loving homes

It’s with good reason that the dogs, cats, guinea pigs and rabbits adopted in the past four years have come to be known as pandemic pets.

Forced to sequester at home due to COVID-19, people adopted a record number of animals thinking that the addition of a pet would stem loneliness and create a happier, healthier home life. Now, four years in, animal shelters are struggling with a deluge of unwanted animals thanks to people returning to work or simply finding the costs associated with pets too burdensome. Some pet owners who no longer want their animals are even on wait lists to return their pets to shelters.

But there is an added problem with COVID pets, says Heather White, animal care and community education manager for the Oakville & Milton Humane Society, which cares for about 3,000 animals each year. “The average person that wants a pet wants one that will integrate into a family quickly,” she says. “Often these pandemic pets are uncomfortable around new people and other pets. It takes some work to integrate them back into people’s homes so you’re asking someone to take on a project.”

While the Humane Society is always in need of foster homes, the need is greater among those homes willing to take on pets deemed more challenging. Animals with medical needs such as diabetes or those that are pregnant require foster homes, for example, that are less stressful and more spacious.

Still, if people are looking for a rewarding experience, fostering is a great way to make a difference, says White. “It helps the animal,” she says. “It helps the shelter and it enables us to do more great things for animals and it has a great and positive impact on the person adopting the animals. A lot of people get hooked.”

Ladybird Animal Sanctuary, which works to raise awareness about the negative impacts of backyard breeders and puppy mills, has a network of 40 to 60 foster homes. Its objective is to help animals that are at threat of being euthanized. A Hamilton-based registered charity since 2011, the sanctuary is fundraising to purchase acreage for headquarters to shelter animals and to continue educating the public about animal welfare. Most of its pets come from animal services in Hamilton, Burlington and Toronto.

“When a shelter hits a certain capacity they can no longer take in additional animals from the public and sometimes they are turned away,” says Janine Stoll, executive director and co-founder of Ladybird. “And sometimes they need to euthanize the less adoptable older ones or those with medical conditions. That’s where we step in.”

While there are many ways to support Ladybird throughout the year, its big annual fundraiser will be held on April 12 in Dundas at Shawn & Ed Brewing Co. Tickets can be purchased online at LadyBirdAnimalSanctuary.com.

While Ladybird applauds newly introduced legislation aimed at stifling puppy mills, Stoll wonders if the proposed law has a tough enough grip to remove cruel and unethical breeding practices. The bill prohibits puppy mills and includes animal welfare measures such as the creation of a tracking system for canines so there would be a public record of a dog’s history. If approved, Ontario would be the first Canadian province to fine the owners of puppy mills. Proposed fines stand at $10,000 to $25,000. Other proposed changes in the legislation include breeding restrictions and an increase in the number of animal welfare service inspectors.

These organizations give a voice to those who can’t speak for themselves: the animals. “Our fosters are the lifeblood of what we do. They provide a lot of hands-on work. Taking an animal out of the shelter means they have a second chance to have a great family. You give them a chance to be loved again and to live out their days. You can often tell the animals are grateful.”