The Moose Jaw Humane Society has seen a concerning increase in the number of surrendered pets over the past couple months. Several of these animals have simply been dumped on the roadside, or – in an extreme recent case – abandoned in a sealed box.
“We don’t want people to do that,” said Dana Haukaas, the executive director at the Humane Society. “We want to help you with your (pet), and if you just give us some time, we will try and create the space.”
The most prevalent abandonment scenario pertains to cats, who typically have been a nuisance on someone’s property. As a result, they get driven out to the countryside and abandoned on a farm.
In the case of dogs, a typical scenario involves a canine pet who runs off and gets lost in the countryside. The recent increase has also seen several stray dogs found within city limits. Nobody has claimed ownership of these stray pets, implying that they were also dumped.
This intake included two Great Danes, an Irish wolfhound border collie mix named Gunner, and a mutt named Scotty. Haukaas said all four dogs were taken in within a two-week period.
“(Our staff) got a call when it was minus 45 (Celsius)… there were two Great Dane mixes that had shown up on an acreage. They wouldn’t leave, and they’d been there for 48 hours,” she explained.
“They were both very hungry, very thin, and very scared.”
The family who discovered them didn’t have the proper knowledge on how to approach these animals, so they called the Humane Society for advice.
“It took us an hour to earn, especially, the (female’s) trust. If she really was dumped in the country, she has no incentive to trust humans anymore,” Haukaas explained.
“Once we got them in the vehicle, they were like they had lived with us forever.”
The male was sadly diagnosed with cancer and had to be humanely put down, but the female Dane experienced a positive outcome.
Now given the name “Boo,” she fully recovered and was adopted by a new, loving family on Feb. 1. Today she continues to progress, and she’s scheduled to get spayed around mid-month. In a case like this, the shelter covers the cost for the procedure.
During the same cold spell in January, the shelter also learned of a sealed box containing two small kittens.
“It was minus 50 (Celsius) when they were dumped,” Haukaas said.
The two kittens survived the ordeal thanks to a farmer who found them and kept them warm in his heated barn. Arya and Sansa are now up for adoption.
“We’re not here to judge people. We understand that life’s circumstances change, and you made a commitment for the life of the pet. Maybe you lost your job, maybe you and your spouse split up, you had to move, and maybe your new house doesn’t allow you to have pets.
“We’re totally understanding of that, and we will help you.”
Haukaas advised anyone looking to surrender a pet give the shelter as much notice as possible. This ensures there is room, as the shelter doesn’t euthanize for space.
The only requirement is for the pet’s owner to be honest. It’s important to know what shots have been administered, and if there are any known health concerns to address.
In the case of animals with behavioural problems such as aggression, the shelter may not be able to accept them due to potential risks. In a case like this, you can contact Gary Overs Kennelling & Obedience at 306-692-6011 to assess the situation. If they can help, Gary Overs has a lifetime of dog handling experience and can offer private lessons.
The shelter also accepts different pet species except for reptiles. To surrender a guinea pig, rabbit, ferret, or other pet, fill out the “Cat” surrender form and note the species in the “Comments” section.
To contact the Humane Society, the number is 306-692-1517. The shelter is open 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Saturdays, and is closed on Sundays and statutory holidays.
To obtain a surrender form, visit mjhs.ca/owner-admissions.
