The City of Calgary is hoping Calgarians will find forever homes for animals currently at the Animal Services Centre during its Adopt-A-Thon. The center is at capacity with dozens of cats and dogs.
“Over the last couple of years, and especially in the last couple of months, we’ve seen an increase in animals coming into the facility, more strays coming in,” said Tara Decker with the city’s Animal Services Centre.
“Normally we’re at about 50 percent (capacity), and right now we’re at 100 percent.”
The Animal Services Centre reinstated its adoption program in response to the capacity issues being felt by shelters across the city. The city says there are many factors contributing to the increase in animals needing homes.
“The economic challenges that are happening right now, I know we’ve had influences from COVID, one big thing is that Calgary has just grown tremendously,” Decker said. “There’s such a larger population, and that means more animals, which would then equate to more strays that we have coming into the facility.”
The city is lowering adoption fees during the adopt-a-thon. The fee for a dog is $75, down from $105, while the fee for a cat is $50, down from $88.75. Adoption fees include medical and dental care, vaccinations, microchip, City of Calgary license and spay/neuter. Officials are also working to educate new pet owners about the other financial responsibilities that come with their furry friends.
“Education is key,” says Decker. “Not only is there a cost to adopting an animal, but they need to be aware that there’s a cost for food, for veterinary care and all the things that can come up, so they can afford the cost of having an animal in their home in the long run.”
A survey of 720 Canadian pet parents in February 2023 found that dog ownership costs between $460 and $3,140 for annual essentials like food, toys and an annual checkup. Additional expenses such as emergency vet bills, pet insurance and grooming can range from $2,060 to $5,600. With the cost of living continuing to rise, these expenses can be an unmanageable financial burden for families with pets.
Halo Husky Haven helps find homes for huskies in the city, and says it has seen an increase in people wanting to surrender their dogs to the rescue, and a decrease in demand for adoptions.
“People are struggling to support their families, let alone a furry friend,” says Stephanie Martin of Halo Husky. “They don’t want to get one (dog) and then have to give it back down the road.”
Martin says she noticed the drop in adoptions starting last fall, around the same time the cost of living became more difficult.
“Even puppies were staying longer than before,” Martin says. “We had a puppy here for months, where before they would go in a couple of weeks.”
