Alberta animal rescue groups feel the pinch as pandemic pets are returned

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During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, with people stuck at home for months on end, Second Chance Animal Rescue Society could rack up 100 applications for a single litter of puppies.

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When people retreated to home offices and kids attended virtual classrooms from the kitchen table, new pets were in high demand. Many people had nothing but time to spend on training a new furry family member, sometimes leaving rescue organizations like SCARS scrambling to keep up.

“It’s not that problem right now, unfortunately,” says SCARS executive director Sylvia Christiansen.

The Edmonton-based animal rescue group hosted an adoption event in Sherwood Park Saturday, with 36 dogs and cats on hand for families to meet and take home. The pets included two pens of fluffy puppies that, two years ago, likely would have been snapped up before they were even listed as available.

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It’s been difficult to have in-person events like the one Saturday throughout much of the last two years, but Christiansen said the organization has its hands full with animals, and she’s hopeful to keep organizing more.

The rescue is currently caring for more than 200 animals, including about 100 dogs.

“I’m so desperate for space. We even posted some of the pound pictures, dogs that are in the pound, because we can’t even fit them in,” Christiansen said.

It’s currently kitten season, the time when animal rescue organizations are the most overwhelmed by new litters from stray cats. But besides that, the number of animals being returned to SCARS is higher than normal, a phenomenon rescue agencies have seen across North America.

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Christiansen said despite their best efforts to screen adopters and try to ensure a good match with a new pet, they might expect around eight returns each month. Currently, those numbers are up to around 12 returns per month — it isn’t an overwhelming torrent, but it’s still straining resources as new animals keep coming in.

“We knew that was going to happen. It wasn’t a surprise,” Christiansen said. She’s seeing everything from people unable to cope with behavioral issues that emerge when dog owners return to in-person work, to adopters realizing that they just no longer have the time to properly care for an animal.

“Now people are back to working regular schedules, and the economy doesn’t help. People are watching their money closer.”

It’s adding up to a challenging time for rescues trying to cope with the ups and downs of the pandemic’s impact. Christiansen said anyone looking for a new pet should look at rescuing first, with so many animals available, and in need.

“It’s always the same old thing,” she said. “There’s just too many.”

11 dogs and 17 cats were adopted during today’s event with other applications “in process.”

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Twitter: @meksmith