Winnipeg Humane Society over capacity amid growing number of surrendered pets

A growing number of surrendered animalsat the Winnipeg Humane Society,relinquished by owners struggling to afford food, medical bills and other expenses for their pets, has brought the site over capacity.

The society says it has more than 500 pets in its care, housing at least 250 of them at its shelter and having another 260 in foster homes.

"We are at overcapacity," said Anja Richter, director of animal care and intake at the shelter.

In an effort to bring down the number of animals in its care, the society is reducing adoption fees and removing the 24-hour hold option, allowing future owners to take their new pets home the same day they first meet them.

"Hopefully, in a couple of days, everything will look better," Richter said.

A larger number of stray animalsthis summer, and an increase in the number of animals rescued from abuse and neglect by the society's protection officers, have alsocontributed to the humane society's current situation, she said.

However, she said a bulk of the pets currently under the organization's care have been surrendered to the humane society by their owners, primarily due to rising costs of living.

"People are having a hard time affording the basic care for the animal," Richter said, adding that at least halfthe pets that have been surrendered came from owners who couldn't make ends meet to pay their medical bills. Other owners, she said, have struggled to buy food for their pets.

Dr. Ron Worb, a veterinarian at Anderson Animal Hospital and Wellness Centre in Winnipeg, says organizations across Canada are facing a similar situation shelters full ofpets surrendered by their owners.

A large number of these animals, Worb said, were adopted in the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. But as public health restrictions eased and people were called back to the office, many of these pets were relinquished.

"Pet owners didn't do their due diligence before they adopted their pet and their pet doesn't meet their lifestyle," Worb said.

"There's a lot of pressure on the shelters [and]humane societies with respect to that."

Meanwhile, Worbadded, veterinarians are having to treatmore pets with social anxiety issues, as somedogs and cats were not trained appropriately or socialized enough with others during pandemic lockdowns.

'Manitoba-wide' problem

Being over capacityis an issue not unique to the Winnipeg Humane Society, Richter said.

"It is certainly a Manitoba-wide problem," she said. "Every shelter, every rescue has the same issue as we do of getting animals into homes."

Earlier this year, 45 animal welfare groups from across Canada signed a letter to Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew and the province's public health officer, asking for $2.5 million in annual funding toward spay and neuter programs to curb animaloverpopulation in Manitoba. The group said an overpopulation of dogs had reached a "breaking point" and was turning into a public health emergency, especially in rural communities.

The WinnipegHumane Society did not sign the letter at the time, saying the shelter was already in talks with the minister of agriculture about expanding its One Health program, whichruns spay and neuter clinics in northern communities.

WATCH|Manitoba animal welfare groups warn of dog overpopulation:

Manitoba animal welfare groups warn of dog overpopulation

7 months ago

Duration 1:53

Animal welfare groups say stray dog overpopulation in remote areas of Manitoba is leading to increased attacks and risk of rabies. They want the provincial government to fund a mass spay and neuter program.

Despite the current lack of vacancy, the humane society saysit is not turning away sick or injured pets, and it hasn't frozen its intake of some stray animals.

"We are really hoping that the public will help us," Richter said.

"I really hope the city of Winnipeg will come through for us and come foster animals, adopt them and help us get them into forever homes."