The lack of pet-friendly rental housing is having an impact on cat rescue organizations in Chilliwack.

Local rescues are 香蕉视频直播渄rowning in cats香蕉视频直播� that have been surrendered by their owners, said Christy Moschopedis of FCM Community Cat Trappers. People are dropping them off at shelters or abandoning them.

Although Moschopedis香蕉视频直播� organization does not have a shelter for cats 香蕉视频直播� FCM focuses on TNRs (trap, neuter/spay, release) of feral cats 香蕉视频直播� she works closely with local rescues to rehome friendly feral cats and kittens.

香蕉视频直播淐hilliwack rescues have seen a significant uptick in owner surrenders. Cats left on doorsteps of shelters. Dumped cats. Cats left behind,香蕉视频直播� she said.

Nearly 80 per cent of the cats in care at four cat rescues in Chilliwack are owner surrenders: ABC Cat Rescue (97 per cent), Chilliwack Animal Safe Haven (63 per cent), Chilliwack Community Animal Projects (100 per cent) and Forever Homes Cat Rescue (58 per cent).

Rescues want to help, but cat owners need to respect the organizations and the staff and volunteers who run them, Moschopedis said.

香蕉视频直播淒on香蕉视频直播檛 contact rescues once you香蕉视频直播檙e already moved out or you have to be out in hours. This is unfair to rescues. Lack of planning on an owner香蕉视频直播檚 part should not constitute an emergency on rescuers香蕉视频直播� part.香蕉视频直播�

Chlo茅 MacBeth, branch manager with the Chilliwack SPCA, echoed Moschopedis香蕉视频直播� message and added there are other reasons cats are being abandoned.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 not just pet-friendly housing that香蕉视频直播檚 the challenge, though that certainly is the most cited reason for surrender,香蕉视频直播� MacBeth said.

Those who impulsively bought pets during the pandemic are facing the realities of finding housing, dealing with behavioural issues and the expense of pet ownership.

There香蕉视频直播檚 also the veterinary shortage issue which slows a cat香蕉视频直播檚 movement through rescues.

When COVID restrictions came into effect, there was a marked increase in pet adoptions and purchases. This fuelled irresponsible breeding such as backyard breeding, and pet mills. Unscrupulous pet import 香蕉视频直播榬escues香蕉视频直播� (flippers) rushed to make money and meet the demand, MacBeth said.

香蕉视频直播淲e are currently seeing the heartbreaking fallout of these unethical practices,香蕉视频直播� she said.

The SPCA and the rescues have waitlists for pet owners surrendering their animals since vulnerable pets 香蕉视频直播� like cruelty investigation cases, street cats and animals that need urgent care 香蕉视频直播� take priority. Roughly 90 percent of the animals on the SPCA waitlist are one to two years old.

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Moschopedis said pet owners need to give rescues a lot of lead time before surrendering their animals.

香蕉视频直播淚f you know that you香蕉视频直播檙e going to need to move in the next month, call immediately to be put on a waitlist,香蕉视频直播� she said. 香蕉视频直播淚f you don香蕉视频直播檛 end up needing your spot on that waitlist, great! They can move on to the next animal on that list.香蕉视频直播�

Moschopedis listed other things pet owners should do:

香蕉视频直播� Attempt to rehome yourself. Do not offer your animals 香蕉视频直播渇ree to a good home.香蕉视频直播� Ask for a rehome fee. Find an adoption application online and ask people to fill it out. Be choosy about where your pet will go.

香蕉视频直播� See if you have a family member who might be able to take your animals. Offer to continue to support them financially if you香蕉视频直播檙e able.

香蕉视频直播� Vet your animals. Have them to the vet for a check up. Make sure they are up to date medically. Provide the rescue with your animal香蕉视频直播檚 vet records.

香蕉视频直播� Update your pet香蕉视频直播檚 permanent ID (tattoo and/or microchip) once they香蕉视频直播檝e been rehomed. We often get animals whose ID is registered to a previous owner.

香蕉视频直播� Don香蕉视频直播檛 contact rescues once you香蕉视频直播檙e already moved out or you have to be out in hours. This is unfair to rescues. Lack of planning on an owner香蕉视频直播檚 part should not constitute an emergency on rescuers香蕉视频直播� part.

MacBeth listed the current top six reasons why owners are surrendering their pets: they already have too many animals, housing related, unwanted litter, life change (hospitalization), no time, and can香蕉视频直播檛 afford veterinary care.

香蕉视频直播淲e have had animals abandoned at our gates which is super frustrating since it forces our already-stretched resources beyond our capacity,香蕉视频直播� MacBeth said. 香蕉视频直播淭his is an industry that already faces tremendous challenges of burnout and compassion fatigue. Managed intakes allow us to provide higher levels of care, to both animals and our team.香蕉视频直播�