One Year Anniversary of Welland & District Humane Society High-Volume Spay/Neuter Clinic

Approximately one year ago the Welland and District Humane Society opened a high-volume spay/neuter clinic. The past year has been very busy with over 4000 surgeries performed! The clinic currently has openings available for people that would like their pets spayed or neutered. Book an appointment here or by calling 289-820-9651.

“The Welland & District Humane Society is very proud and excited to have reached our one-year anniversary on May 5, 2015. To date, we have performed over 4,000 surgeries in our attempt to reduce pet overpopulation. We are very proud of our surgical team for their efforts and professionalism. A big thank you to everyone who have helped make this clinic a resounding success!” said Inspector John Greer, Executive Director of the Welland & District Humane Society.

In April the Welland SPCA in partnership with the Ontario SPCA unleashed a fully equipped mobile spay and neuter clinic to help reduce pet overpopulation across Ontario.

READ THE UPDATE

Nova Scotia SPCA Opens Veterinary Hospital in Cape Breton

In 2014, the Nova Scotia SPCA received a one-time grant of $181,000 from Pet Smart Charities to go towards the construction and equipment costs to open a Spay/Neuter hospital at the Cape Breton Branch of the Society.   

Earlier this month, the hospital opened and performed its first surgery. The opening of this hospital can only be described as a “game changer” for stray and abandoned animals and feral cats on the island of Cape Breton with the hope of tackling a large pet overpopulation crisis that has existed for decades. 

For the first time in the history of the Cape Breton Branch, all animals in their care will be spayed and neutered prior to adoption. This hospital will allow the shelter to reduce costs associated with veterinary care and will provide a full complement of services so that all medical procedures required by SPCA Shelter animals will be completed prior to adoption so there is no cost passed on to the new owner.

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BC SPCA success in combating the 'cat crisis'

The British Columbia SPCA funded a record number of spay and neuter surgeries for cats in communities across the province in 2014. 

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A major focus on the BC SPCA's five-year Strategic Plan is ensuring every cat in B.C. has a loving home, yet there are tens of thousands of felines across the province who live outdoors, facing several predators and dangers. With a total of 4,600 surgeries in 2014, the organization has more than doubled its surgeries since 2012 (2,150). 

"It is such great news," said Amy Morris, BC SPCA policy and outreach officer. "While we can't control the number of cats who are abandoned or born outside, we certainly do our best to reduce those numbers, which ultimately means far fewer cats who don't have warm, loving homes." 

To help combat British Columbia's cat crisis, the BC SPCA works with donors, volunteers, veterinarians, partner organizations and cat advocates through several community programs designed to help spay and neuter outdoor cats, among many other initiatives. 

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Introducing PuppySwap!

With a new and unorthodox campaign, the Toronto Humane Society is hoping to spread the message that pet abandonment is a serious problem in Canada.

The PuppySwap.ca campaign advertises a new website service designed to allow families to pick puppies based on 'adorability' and 'trending now' factors.

"It's the beginning of an exciting journey you'll never want to end. And now, it never has to, because the moment your puppy grows up, becomes a bother or becomes less likable, you can log back into your account and swap out your old best friend for a brand new one!"

It isn't until the end of the advertisement that the truth is revealed. PuppySwap isn't real. Pet abandonment is. The website link in the video explains that more than 180,000 pets are surrendered to Humane Societies and shelters in Canada every year and that 40% of them don't leave the system alive.

The video ad, release on YouTube on January 8, 2015, has more than 230,000 views.

St. John’s plans pilot program to house pets of domestic-violence victims

The City of St. John's says it plans on launching a pilot program to house pets who belong to victims of domestic violence. 

Research done in Newfoundland as well as other provinces finds that domestic violence towards spouses and children often also targets household pets. A study released in 2012 by the Alberta SPCA revealed that 59% of pet-owning women in emergency shelters delayed leaving their abusive environment out of concern for their pets. Another study conducted by the Calgary Humane Society in 2001 found that 56% of participants reported their abuser had threatened to hurt or kill or had actually hurt or killed a family pet. 

Since St. John's emergency animal shelters are unable to accommodate pets, many victims delay leaving abusive situations, VOCM radio reported. A spokesperson for the city's animal care and control committee, Ron Ellsworth, said details for the program are currently being worked out but it would be a foster-based program and would not put any additional pressure on city facilities. 

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Are Canadians having a cat moment?

The Canadian Federation of Humane Societies released its annual animal shelter statistics earlier this month, revealing that cats are are Canadians have answered the call of the cats.

The report showed feline adoption rates have increased, euthanasia rates have decreased and fewer cats were taken in by shelters. The 2013 data was collected from 90 shelters across Canada, representing the best information about companion animals in Canadian shelters.

READ THE FULL REPORT

"When CFHS began systematically collecting shelter statistics in 1993, only 28% of cats who entered shelters were adopted and a staggering 60% of cats were euthanized," said Dr. Toolika Rastogi, Policy and Research manager at CFHS. "In 2013, the adoption rate jumped to 53% and the euthanasia rate dropped to 37%." Rastogi added that, for the first time, the adoption rate has surpassed the dog adoption rate.

Conversely, the report also discovered lost cats are less likely to be reunited with their owners now than in the past - in fact, the return-to-owner rate for cats has actually decreased over time. In 2013, only 3.5% of cats in shelters were reunited with their owners.

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Nova Scotia regional branches to join forces under Provincial umbrella

The Nova Scotia SPCA announced last month the merger of its branches (Antigonish, Hants, La Baie, Lunenburg, Queens, Cape Breton, Colchester, Kings, Pictou, Yarmouth and Provincial).This transformation allows the organization to be more strategic in the delivery of enhanced programs, gives increased ability to protect financial assets and provides better opportunity to grow provincial fundraising initiatives. 

"The merger is a collaborative effort between all of the SPCA branches and the end result is a dissolution of individual branches currently registered under the Registry of Joint Stock Companies into branch divisions of the Nova Scotia SPCA under The Animal Protection Act," said Elizabeth Murphy, Nova Scotia SPCA CEO. 

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Parliament Hill "Catman" remembered

Photo Credit: Pat McGrath, Ottawa Citizen 

A long-serving caretaker of the Parliament Hill cat sanctuary died Sunday at the age of 92. 

René Chartrand tended to the cat colony for 21 years until 2008, when poor health kept him from his daily visits. With support from Ralston Purina, which supplied the food, vets at the Alta Vista Animal Hospital who provided care and a bevy of cat loving volunteers, Chartrand made the sanctuary the second most popular spot on the Hill after the Centre Block. 

"He made a promise that he would feed them and he did," said Brian Caines, a retired public servant who befreinded Chartrand in the 1990s. "He was there every day. He was there the day his wife died. On the 9/11 lockdown, he was the only civilian let on the Hill. He was so well know and the cats were so well know they made an exception for him to get up there." 

The cat sanctuary carried on for just a few more years after Chartrand retired. The cats were all spayed and neutered and the colony dwindled from its peak of 28 animals to just four in the fall of 2012. The last Hill cat, a tabby named Bugsy, was captured and adopted on January 4, 2014.  

READ THE OTTAWA CITIZEN OBITUARY

Spay/Neuter grants now available for British Columbia

The BC SPCA is offering spay/neuter grants to the province's communities to help address the issue of pet overpopulation. Through several private donations designated to the BC SPCA for spay/neuter programs, the society is providing $87,500 in grants in 2015 - $80,000 or cats and $7,500 for dogs and rabbits. 

Now in its third year, the program allocates funds to registered animal charities and non-profits, municipalities, veterinarians, BC SPCA branches, First Nations governments and First Nations tribal councils. Successful applicants must meet specific criteria and be able to administer the grant. 

The BC SPCA spends $2 million annually on spay/neuter initiatives across the province, including the provision of free and low-cost spay/neuter operations through SPCA clinics in Vancouver, Prince George and Kamloops. Addressing the massive homeless cat issue in B.C. is a major focus of the BC SPCA's five-year Strategive Plan says Executive Director, Craig Daniell. 

The deadline to apply for a BC SPCA grant is Dec. 31, 2014. For more information, visit www.spca.bc.ca. 

How the Million Cat Challenge Will Help Shelters Save Cats’ Lives

Sponsored by Maddie's Fund® and led by Drs. Kate Hurley and Julie Levy, the Million Cat Challenge seeks to partner with animal shelters across North America to implement one or more, or all five initiatives designed to increase the number of cats who leave shelters alive. These programs will reduce intake, improve the conditions cats experience in shelters, remove barriers to adoption and revolutionize the way community/feral cats are handled. 

Every cat counts. That's the premise of the Million Cat Challenge.

On Thursday, January 15, 2015 at 8:30 p.m EST, Drs. Hurley and Levy will lead a free Maddie's Institute webcast: How the Million Cat Challenge will Help Save Cats' Lives. The campaign is a joint effort between the UC Davis Koret Shelter Medicine Program and the Maddie's® Shelter Medicine Program at the University of Florida. 

For more information on the Million Cat Challenge, visit www.millioncatchallenge.org. To register for the webcast, CLICK HERE. 

To purchase or adopt - that is the question

A new study from PetSmart Charities found that more than two-thirds of Americans surveyed said they would rather adopt a pet than buy one from a pet store or breeder. 

Nearly 3,000 people participated in the 2014 U.S. Shelter Pet Report. A large number of those surveyed (81%) said they own a dog and/or cat, a large increase from 63% three years ago. 

READ MORE: MOST PET PARENTS NOW CHOOSE TO ADOPT BUT MORE LOCAL ACTION IS NEEDED TO END PET HOMELESSNESS 

The study also found that while a growing number of people say they care about pet homelessness, more than half still don't provide any support for solving the issue. 

"Unlike other causes, we are not hampered by a lack of cure or technology," said Jan Wilkins, PetSmart Charities executive director. "If all of the pet lovers in the United States simply took action in their communities today, our grandchildren would not have to live in a world where thousands of healthy pets are euthanized daily." 

Survey highlights: 

• Pet homelessness is an important cause. Forty-six per cent of people surveyed view the het homelessness problem as very important. The number of people who say they donated their time or money to help pets increased by 11%.
• Pet owners underestimate the problem. Most people (85%) underestimate the number of pets who are euthanized annually in the U.S. An estimated four million pets every year are euthanized because there are not enough homes.
• Misperceptions about shelter pets still exist. The study found that among new pet owners, the main barrier to adoption was that people said shelters did not have the type of pet they wanted (36%). 
• Spay/neuter rates have increased. Survey responses suggest that 86% of pets have been fixed, compared to 79% in 2011 and 80% in 2009.
• Cost is a barrier to spay/neuter. Fewer than half of pet parents knew that low-cost spay/neuter options were available. That's a problem because 30% of people whose pets were unaltered said they chose not to spay/neuter because it was too expensive. 

READ MORE: ADOPT OR PURCHASE A PET?

CFHS releases Accessible Spay/Neuter Toolkit

The Canadian Federation of Humane Societies (CFHS) launched its Accessible Spay/Neuter Toolkit last week. The new succinct suite of invaluable resources facilitates the creation of accessible spay/neuter programs in every community, in every province, across Canada. 

The Toolkit is a series of real-world, hands-on materials that will help make the dream of accessible spay/neuter for all a reality," said Toolika Rastoji, Policy and Research Manager of the CFHS.

The Toolkit includes a Community Spay/Neuter Needs Assessment; Educational and E-learning Resources; Budget and Marketing Guidance; and Funding Resources. Funding for the Accessible Spay/Neuter Toolkit was provided by PetSmart Charities of Canada. 

For more information and to download the Toolkit resources in English and French, visit www.cfhs.ca

ASPCA Mega Match-a-thon grants $220,000 to animal welfare organizations

The American SPCA (ASPCA) announced that 33 animal welfare organizations are recieving grant funding to participate in the nationwide ASPCA "Mega Match-a-thon" events presented by Subaru, which will take place from October 17-19, 2014. The ASPCA is granting $220,000 to support a host of large-scale adoption events held nationwide in an effort to save the lives more shelter animals. 

"This is our third year holding the ASPCA Mega Match-a-thon and we can't wait to see what this year's participants have planned," said Julie Morris, senior vice president of community outreach for the ASPCA. "Creative events planned by the shelters get the attention of their local communities, which helps even more dogs and cats find loving homes." 

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McGrand Removed from Emerging Leader Scholarship

PetLynx Corporation is removing references to ‘the Honourable Frederic Addison McGrand’ from program elements of Urban Animal.

Federic A. McGrand, was an important figure in the Animal Welfare movement. He founded more than 11 organizations and initiatives in Atlantic Canada, established the Canadian Federation of Humane Societies and was associated with the Animal Welfare Foundation of Canada. All of this was in addition to being a respected Senator from New Brunswick and a neuro-pioneer who illuminated behaviors and the connections between animals and people.

Earlier this summer, Barbara Cartwright, Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian Federation of Humane Societies (CFHS) contacted PetLynx taking exception to the honouring of McGrand with two Emerging Leader Scholarships at Summit 2014. Although invited to meet and find a solution, CFHS began trademark proceedings to protect McGrand for the exclusive use of CFHS and threatened PetLynx with a lawsuit for infringement.

At a meeting last week, members of the Alliance for Urban Animals™ discussed the situation and determined not to engage the Federation in a legal battle. In fact, members determined this to be an opportunity to demonstrate the beliefs and values upon which the Alliance is built. Members of the Alliance for Urban Animals™ believe colleagues in the Urban Animal industry can set aside differences and collaborate to deliver a more positive experience for pet owners.

Alliance members will be invited to propose a new honoree for the Humane and Rescue sector Scholarships.

Petsecure supports OSPCA with $17,500 donation

Photo Credit

Petsecure handed over a cheque for more than $17,000 to the Ontario SPCA resulting from their sponsorship of the 2014 National Cupcake Day for SPCA's & Humane Societies. 

National Cupcake Day™ is a first-ever, coordinated Canadian event to support local shelters, SPCAs and Humane Societies. In 2014, animal lovers across Canada raised over $450,000 to support their favourite societies. Funds raised from National Cupcake Day™ go back to help the shelters, clinics, inspectors and animals in communities across the country. 

READ MORE: National Cupcake Day becomes a nationally recognized success!

PetSmart Charities funds new Ontario pet clinic

The North Bay & District Humane Society in Ontario announced a groundbreaking partnership with PetSmart Charities last week that propelled the opening of a new pet clinic offering low-cost spay and neuter surgeries. 

The 350,000 project was made possible by a $200,000 commitment from PetSmart Charities of Canada as well as reserve funds of North Bay Humane. 

An event to highlight the announcement August 29 was well attended by media and local dignitaries, including North Bay mayor, Al McDonald. Executive Director Daryl Vaillancourt told attendees the clinic goal is to complete 2,500 spay/neuter surgeries this year with the ultimate goal of 5,000 surgeries annually. 

Overpopulation of dogs and cats continues to be a persistent problem in the North Bay and surrounding area resulting in tens of thousands of animals entering shelters across the country each year. Operating as a full service clinic, this initiative will allow the organization to provide on-site primary care to animals housed there as well as offer services to other humane societies, remote communities and rescue agencies in the area. 

Patricia Cameron begins new role with Saskatoon SPCA

The Saskatoon SPCA welcomed Patricia Cameron as its new Executive Director Monday. 


With graduate degrees in both English literature and business administration,  Cameron has had a varied career, including success as an entrepreneur, more than a decade in post-secondary education (where she taught public relations, media studies, interpersonal and technical communications); 6 years in animal welfare (during which she was executive director of the Calgary Humane Society), and a role as executive director of Green Calgary.   

READ MORE: New Saskatoon Executive Director 

Cameron was chosen after a regional search and selection process. 

"The Board of Directors is pleased to announce this appointment," said Kevin Hovdestad, Saskatoon SPCA Board Chair. "Ms. Cameron will bring leadership and experience to the shelter. She has extensive not-for-profit and Humane Society experience." 

During her time at Calgary Humane, Cameron significantly increased revenues, expanded the organization's services and led CHS to national recognition for sheltering, humane education and animal protection. 

“I am delighted to be back in my home town, Saskatoon, and working with the great team at the Saskatoon SPCA.  It is an exciting time for the organization, and a wonderful time to connect again with the many amazing people I know from across Canada who have dedicated their careers and talents to the pet industry and animal welfare.”

PIJAC engages Ed Sayres as new President and CEO

Last week, the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council (PIJAC) Board of Directors offered the positions of President and CEO to Ed Sayres. 

The move has prompted some discussion among industry advocates who recall some of the more controversial decisions and statements made by Sayres during his decade-long tenure as President and CEO of the American SPCA (ASPCA). 

READ MORE: What were they thinking?

According to PIJAC though, the decision followed a lengthy search process and internal discussions, during which Sayre's combination of experience and perspective distinguished him from other candidates. 

"We have discussed his previous statements and actions with him at length and believe that he shares our firm committment to the health and well-being of pets and all of the businesses and individuals who support them, both within PIJAC and the broader pet trade," reads the PIJAC blog announcing the offer. 

READ MORE: Statement regarding President and CEO of PIJAC

READ MORE: Ed Sayres departs from the ASPCA leaving a mixed legacy 

Capturing the conversations of the 2014 AASAO Conference

The Association of Animal Shelter Administrators of Ontario (AASAO) is gearing up to host its annual  Conference, September 25-26, 2014.

Conference organizers are confident this year's event will be a valuable educational experience with plenty of networking opportunities. 

A quick look at this year's topics: 

•  Increasing Your Internal Capacity: Retention Methods that Work
• Employee Retention: Methods that Motivate
• Saving Lives with the ASV Guidelines - A Canadian Journey
• Partnerships & Alternative Revenue Concepts for Municipalities and Humane Societies
• Evidence-Based Approaches to Understanding Companion Animal Relinquishment and Address Cat Overpopulation 
• Does Genetics Present an Inexpensive, Non-Surgical Alternative for Sterilizing Shelter Animals 
• Rethinking the Cat Crisis - Obstacles and Opportunities 

To view the complete program, CLICK HERE!

BC SPCA earns top-rated, “four stars” from Charity Intelligence Canada

The BC SPCA received national recognition last week when it was awarded four stars - the highest rating possible - in Charity Intelligence Canada's annual list of top charities announced today. 

Charity Intelligence Canada assesses hundreds of non-profit organizations across the country. The BC SPCA is one of only 109 Canadian charities and the only animal welfare organization, accredited by Imagine Canada for demonstrated excellence in financial accountability and transparency, board governance, fundraising, staff management and volunteer involvement. 

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"The BC SPCA is able to carry out its work on behalf of abused, injured and homeless animals through the generosity of individuals, businesses, foundations and others in the community who support us," said Craig Daniell, BC SPCA CEO. "It is extremely important to us to be able to demonstrate that these donations are being stewarded as effectively as possible." 

For more information, visit www.charityintelligence.ca