Maritimes shelters participate in 'Rescue Operation'

Rescue groups and shelters in Canada's Maritimes are preparing to receive an additional 100 cats and dogs transported from over-capacity shelters in the United States. 

The Animal Rescue Corps arrived in Canada earlier this month with 50 stray dogs from Palm Springs, Calif., that were released to shelters in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. 

Scotlund Haisley, president of the Animal Rescue Corps said the cross-country trip required a lot of planning and it wasn't cheap but that higher vacancy rates in Maritimes shelters meant cutting several small trips into one large one. 

"It's a $15,000 transport," said Haisley. "And this is the first of two transports. So it's about a $30,000 rescue operation."

Vacancies in Canadian shelters and pounds may corroborate reports of a declining trend in pet ownership which was first illuminated in a presentation by Dr. Karen Felsted at Summit 2012.  According to Andrea Stone, Fredericton SPCA, the shelter is currently home to 14 dogs but has the capacity to hold around 30.

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