One of the biggest barriers to owning an animal these days is the spiraling cost of veterinary care. It’s the number one reason that people surrender animals to us and it’s the number one reason people are more recently choosing not to adopt. Sadly, as is often the case, it’s the animals that suffer the most.
In our aging, cramped building, we simply don’t have the resources or the space to provide an affordable, full-service clinic. Our goal is to build a new shelter with a much larger surgical suite that will give us the opportunity to provide a feasible low-cost alternative to veterinary care for owned animals. However that solution is still several years away. Until then, we’re limited to hosting a monthly low-cost spay/neuter clinic and quarterly vaccine and microchip clinics. That means, when people come to us with injured or sick animals and they can’t afford their veterinarian’s recommended treatment, surrender is the only option. Of all the difficult situations we face, this happens more often and is more emotional than almost anything else. Sitting with someone while they say goodbye to their beloved pet, not because they don’t want to care for it but because they can’t afford the medicine, the treatment or the surgery required, is heartbreaking. When I started in animal welfare, this type of surrender happened a few times a year. Lately it seems as if it’s happening a few times a month. We’re counselling, consoling and crying with people as they surrender their furry family members so often that we’ve had to devote regular time to this specific task.
Again, due to our lack of space, this often happens in the main lobby. While others may be adopting or donating, an elderly woman is just as likely to be quietly sobbing in the corner as she gives her cat one final cuddle. The other complicating factor is that, due to the high demand, animals on our surrender list can be waiting for four to six weeks and are frequently bumped further down the list by emergency medical surrenders. It means we’re constantly navigating a blend of “standard” intakes like strays, abandoned, abused and mistreated animals with an increasing number of owner surrenders. This is not just limited to Kingston and the surrounding area. It’s a national predicament. At a recent conference of humane societies and rescues from across Canada, owner surrenders was the primary topic and right now, nobody has the answer.
The sad truth is, that when you combine the affordability crisis with the corporatization of clinics, owning an animal is slowly becoming a luxury item in low to middle income homes. Until we find a solution, the result will continue to be more heartbreaking surrenders, more animals that need homes and more requests for help. That’s why we turned to you for assistance this summer. These surrendered animals often require complex, time-consuming treatment or off-site surgery and that has driven our costs up dramatically. The bright, shining light in this scenario has been the community reaction.
The coalescence of community spirit and generosity in response to our summer call out for donations was astounding. When we told you about Two-Socks, the Cane Corso mix who needed complex orthopedic surgery and the costs associated with the care for Suds, Betty White, Tumble, Dani and Tigger our goal was to raise $40,000. As of today, you have exceeded that by donating $44,081; and money is still coming in.
That kind of response is worthy of celebration. It’s also the only way we can continue to provide expensive and complicated medical treatment to the abandoned, abused, neglected and stray animals that keep coming through our doors.
I’m constantly amazed and privileged to stand witness as our community comes together again and again to support animals in need. As always, thank you from all of us and especially from the animals.