Future pet owners have their pick of the litter at the Montreal SPCA whether it’s cats, dogs, rabbits, rats and even one turtle. It’s high season and the number of shelter admissions is rising. “The first few months of the year, we usually get about 20 animals per day. Right now, we’re getting up to 40. We had 69 on Friday.” said Gabrielle Carrière, Montreal SPCA Head Veterinarian. This happens around this time every year. The fast-approaching July 1 moving day, paired with the high cost of living, means many families are having to make tough decisions, says Carrière. “We’ve always had families coming in crying because they don’t mean to surrender their animals. And we hope the stigma or the shame around having to look for help goes away.” According to the SPCA, 52 per cent of Quebec families live with at least one pet. Yet, 87 per cent of housing units prohibit animals or have some restrictions. A Quebec housing tribunal decision to allow pets in rental units is currently being appealed. “We’re hoping that things change and that we no longer have laws that get in the way of families that are already struggling with different socioeconomic factors,” said Carrière. The cages at Adoption Lapin Sans Abri shelter in Quebec City are already full. ALSA is managing 90 rabbits, including 30 recently rescued from one home where there were rabbits in the walls. “This year, because of the sauvetage that we did with all the bunnies that we took in, plus you add on the first of July, plus you add on the aftermath of Easter that’s a dangerous mix,” said Ann Gingras, an ALSA volunteer. She says they get messages from people every day seeing if they can take their rabbits and they have to turn them away, unless it’s an emergency. Back at the SPCA, the shelter says it always tries to find solutions. But it is starting to get more complicated with more animals potentially being brought here ahead of July 1.
