Dana Haukaas, executive director of the Moose Jaw Humane Society (MJHS), said that while the rescue does better than most at avoiding quick adoption turnovers, pet owners should give the MJHS plenty of time to arrange a surrender.
“Not for us,” Haukaas said, when asked whether the MJHS sees an uptick in pet surrenders after the holidays. “We haven’t really experienced that, where a person gets a puppy for Christmas and surrenders it after Christmas.”
Following the holidays, many animal shelters see the return of pets who were unwanted gifts, or whose new owners aren’t able to care for them. But Haukaas said the surrenders they’ve seen in the new year so far are not because of Christmas — and have understandable reasons behind them.
“Most of our (surrenders) are people who life situation has changed. They just can’t look after their pet. They don’t have the resources, maybe costs have increased, they’ve lost their job.”
One family who recently surrendered their dogs did so reluctantly after moving into the city from their farm, Haukaas explained. Inflation is also pinching at budgets and forcing difficult choices.
“The cost of everything is rising,” she added. “We’ve had another surrender request, that with the cost of food increasing … they just don’t have the financial means to provide for the dog anymore.”
Haukaas said that the MJHS is not in a position to judge anyone who needs to give up their pet. She and her staff only want to work together with owners in the best interests of the animal.
“I think everyone who adopts a pet initially does so with the best heart and intentions. It’s just that sometimes life will serve you a curveball, and we understand that sometimes pets can’t stay with you, and that’s what we’re here for. We’re here to help.”
There are two pieces of advice Haukaas and the MJHS team want to share with owners forced to give up their pets:
- Let the shelter know as far in advance as possible
- Be totally honest about the animal
Smaller shelters, like the Moose Jaw Humane Society, do not have large kennel capacities and are often unable to accept same-day surrenders, Haukaas explained. They need time to prepare or find a foster family.
“If you’ve known for two months that you have to move, and that your next property doesn’t allow you to have pets … and you phone us the day before you have to leave your apartment, we may not be able to help you out.”
Being honest about the animal helps the shelter avoid inappropriate adoptions or fosters. Sometimes, people who are surrendering a pet don’t want to reveal mal-adaptive or anti-social behaviours, or they just love their pets and want to give the best possible impression.
However, the shelter needs to know if a dog does not like cats or children, or if a cat is aggressive with other cats.
“Share the good and the bad,” Haukaas advised. “That’s important for us to know, so that we make sure we put them in a home where they’re going to be happy and healthy and live out the rest of their days.”
As always, the MJHS has many more cats to find permanent homes for than dogs. Dogs are also far more likely to be retrieved by their owners after running away or getting lost.
Only 18 per cent of the cats they intake are claimed by their owners, compared with 85 per cent of dogs.
To see the list of animals currently to be adopted, fill out a pet surrender (owner admission) form, volunteer, or donate to the MJHS, visit their website at mjhs.ca/ or their Facebook page at facebook.com/moosejawhumanesociety.
