'Pandemic pets' overwhelming Ontario pet rescues
Birdie is a delightful, happy dog, with a complicated and expensive health history. It’s from a congenital birth defect, which means she doesn’t gain weight, has miniature eyes and an altered gait.
“The most recent blood work for Birdie cost us $600, and that’s on top of the $3,800 in bills we already have for her,” says the founder and owner, of Adopt-A-Pet Pet Rescue Lucknow, Kathi Newell-Nicholson.
Birdie is one of 20 dogs and more than 70 cats in Newell-Nicholson’s care. As an animal lover, she founded Adopt-A-Pet Pet Rescue in Lucknow, Ont. 24 years ago. She’s accepted hundreds of pet surrenders over the years, but “pandemic pets” have pushed her pet rescue to the limit.
Kathi Newell-Nicholson holds “Dylan,” an adoptable dog through Adopt-A-Pet Pet Rescue Lucknow. (Scott Miller/CTV News London)
“A lot of people bought animals that were ill suited to them, and a lot of the dogs weren’t trained or vetted, so now they’re wanting to give them up to rescues, but rescues just don’t have the capacity to take more owner surrenders in,” she says.
With just a handful of foster homes for her nearly 100 surrendered pets spread across Southern Ontario, Newell-Nicholson is need of some help, whether it’s volunteer drivers, foster homes, food, litter, or simply money.
“The vetting and food bills are really a lot more than the adoption fees, ever are,” she says.
With foster homes as far away as Guelph and London, Newell-Nicholson says along with taking in Ontario pet surrenders, she’s also worried about Canadian and international pets, now that Canada is banning dog imports from 100 countries, starting in September.
Two adoptable dogs from Adopt-A-Pet Pet Rescue Lucknow, in Goderich, Ont. as seen on July 29, 2022. (Scott Miller/CTV News London)
“Some of those countries have bounties on these dogs, where you can bring them the tail, like a coyote bounty here. They will poison them, and put glass in their food, as well,” she says.
Newell-Nicholson says she simply needs some help to keep up with the growing pace of unwanted pets, both in Ontario and abroad.
“I’m an animal lover. I just don’t want to see an animal put down, if there’s another option,” she says.
To learn more about Adopt-A-Pet Pet Rescue Lucknow, you can visit the Adopt-A-Pet website or visit them on Facebook.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
Documents reveal Ottawa's efforts to get Loblaw, Walmart on board with grocery code
It was evident to the federal government as early as last fall that Loblaw and Walmart might be holdouts to the grocery code of conduct, jeopardizing the project's success.
opinion The special relationship between King Charles and the Princess of Wales
Royal commentator Afua Hagan writes that when King Charles recently admitted Catherine to the Order of the Companions of Honour, it not only made history, but it reinforced the strong bond between the King and his beloved daughter-in-law.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Improve balance and build core strength with this exercise
When it comes to cardiovascular fitness, you may tend to focus on activities that move you forward, such as walking, running and cycling.
New Norad commander calls Canada's defence policy update 'very encouraging'
American troops will be spending more time training in the Far North, the new commander of Norad says, a strategy that fits 'hand-in-glove' with Canada's renewed focus on Arctic defence.
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
$70M Lotto Max winners kept prize a secret from family for 2 months
During a special winner celebration near their hometown, Doug and Enid shared the story of how they discovered they were holding a Lotto Max ticket worth $70 million and how they kept this huge secret for so long.