WELFARE - Adoptable Dogs Return as Ball Dogs at Brazil Open

After a successful debut in 2016, ball dogs will once again participate in the Brazil Open tennis tournament.

The six dogs are from local animal shelters and will retrieve balls during warmups for the semi-final and final games.

All four dogs that appeared last year were adopted and organizers hope this year’s dogs will ‘fetch’ people’s attention and find homes as well.

Ball dogs Cindy, Nanda, Pretinha, Mia, Arlete and Ovelha range in age from four to ten years.

"They are dogs that have had a difficult trajectory, yes. But what we want to point out is not the history suffered from the past, but to prove that no matter what they have gone through, they can be great companions today and in the future,” Madalena Spinazzola, director of corporate marketing and strategic planning for PremieR Pet and event organizer, said on the Brazil Open website.

Having dogs retrieve tennis balls at the tournament places them in front of an audience that may not have considered adoption and that is the goal of many unique adoption promotions.

Other innovative examples include having adoptable dogs at a major league baseball game, as greeters in a hotel and dancing in a ballet.

WELFARE - Will Ending Dog Breed Identification Increase Adoptions?

What kind of dog is that?

It’s a question that dog owners, shelter and rescue workers, animal control and veterinarians are asked all the time.

Often the answer is an educated guess.

Visual identification of dog breeds is often inaccurate and even the most educated can disagree when looking at a specific canine.

Dogs can now be identified using DNA, and studies comparing visual identification with DNA results show the two rarely match.

At the same time there is a struggle determining the breeds in mixed canines, the public is inundated with information about how to choose the right dog for them based on breed characteristics.

Often the way a dog is labeled can impact how quickly - or slowly - they get adopted.

This is particularly true for dogs with large, blocky heads who can have the biggest challenge finding a home.

So, what is a shelter, rescue or animal control to do?

Some believe it is time to stop playing the breed identification guessing game in order to increase adoptions and make better matches between people and pets.

This may be a challenge to human nature that loves to label things in order to understand them better.

And how can an adopter know how big a puppy is going to get if they don’t know the breed?

To help this evolution, Maddie’s Fund is presenting a free webinar tomorrow - January 19th - featuring Kristen Auerbach of Austin Animal Center, in Austin, TX, and Caitlin Quinn, Director of Operations at HeARTs Speak.

The 90 minute webinar will cover:

• The genetic science of dog breeds
• The inaccuracy of breed guessing
• How choosing a companion based on an accurate personality profile is a better approach than guessing at breed
• What research tells us about behavioural variability of individuals within all dog breeds
• How breed labels affect all dogs
• The consequences of breed labeling dogs of unknown origin
• How guessing at breed causes confusion and false expectations
• What to do about shelter software that requires a breed label
• And more.

The webinar includes time for Q&A.

Sign up for Time to Stop Playing the Breed ID Game.

LEGISLATION - Law Lets Shelters do Background Checks on Adopters

A new law in Michigan can provide greater protection for animals.

House Bill No.4353 gives shelters the ability to do criminal background checks on potential adopters.

If the adopter has a criminal history of animal abuse, the organization can refuse the adoption.

Earlier versions of the bill would have required a criminal background check, but the bill that passed simply gives the organization the ability to use the Internet Criminal History Access Tool (ICHAT).

Adoption Centres "may choose not to allow an individual who has been convicted of an animal abuse offense to adopt an animal unless a period of at least five years has elapsed since the date of his or her conviction."

The legislation was called Logan's Law after a March 2012 incident in which a Wales Township husky named Logan was blinded by an acid burn. The dog died a few months later.

Unlike earlier revisions of Logan’s Law that included an animal abuse registry, using the ICHAT system for criminal background checks will come at little to no cost to the state.

WELFARE - Parrot Plight in BC

(Greyhaven Exotic Bird Sanctuary)

The plight of the 600-plus parrots who have called the World Parrot Refuge (WPR) in Coombs, Vancouver Island, home continues.

The overburdened facility lost their founder, Wendy Huntbatch, to cancer in February, resulting in the accelerated deterioration of the health, well-being and of course, the future of the birds.

Greyhaven Exotic Bird Sanctuary of Vancouver, B.C. stepped in over a month ago to assist the situation, pouring their own reserves into caring for the birds, re-homing them - including temporary housing at the Nanaimo SPCA’s former location – and foster homes, and ensuring the birds receive the veterinary care needed.

“Many of us watched this unfold over the years and we were unable to do anything about it (until now),” said John Creviston, who was recently brought in by Greyhaven as an interim manager to assist with the WPR crisis, which he describes as a situation of ‘good intentions that went too far’.

Creviston, whose own background in animal welfare includes working as a zookeeper at the Calgary Zoo, as a curator at the Crystal Garden Conservation Centre, with SPCAs and other conservation groups, said at present time the main focus of Greyhaven’s efforts for the WPR birds is to ensure all the birds are in safe interim housing by Aug. 1, 2016 – when the landowner wishes the facility to be free and clear of the birds.

Huntbatch did not seek to re-home parrots she took in her refuge and rather, kept them in her own care. Creviston said at one point, he observed over 800 birds in the facility, many of which were very large birds who developed issues including self-mutilation and aggression – induced by stress and anxiety resulting from boredom or being without human contact.

Parrots are highly intelligent birds. In fact, a recent study shows the bird brain is more sophisticated than the human brain.

They bond very closely with humans and do not function well in captivity if they don’t receive a lot of human contact. With life expectancy reaching as high as 100 for some species, the average parrot will have some seven owners in their lifetime.

While the greater Vancouver and Vancouver Island bird-loving communities have stepped up to assist with cage and food donations, there is still much work to do – including ensuring the once-19 and now seven remaining WPR staff receive the support to get through this period of difficulty.

“There’s grief involved for them and they are trying to do the best they can under the circumstances…sometimes that gets lost in the telling of the story,” said Creviston, who is committed to making sure the WPR staff and volunteers feel supported and understood during this transition period.

“I want them to understand they are not alone.”

Greyhaven continues to seek donations in any way people are able, as their reserves and resources continue to be exhausted by the massive undertaking of caring for the birds at the WPR; they are also beginning to screen their list of potential adoptive bird parents and are working to reunite some of the WPR birds with former owners.

The Greyhaven Exotic Bird Sanctuary is a non-profit society, reliant on donations and volunteers. Without throwing the WPR crisis into the mix, the Vancouver-based sanctuary has an average intake of 200 birds annually.

As more birds continue to pour into the marketplace, the constraints on Greyhaven continue to mount and they are currently seeking a new sanctuary.

By Lindsay Seewalt

Lindsay is an experienced journalist and mother of three whose heart and home is always open to a four-legged friend. With her Corgi, Angie, as household editor-in-chief, Lindsay gives back to the animal planet through the written word on anything and all ado about pets. She is passionate about topics regarding animal welfare and responsible pet ownership, which she aims to instill in both her readers and children to be compassionate animal lovers who are conscious and considerate that furry friends around the globe deserve a voice.

WELFARE - Where are all the Cats?

An encouraging trend for cat lovers indicates that feline populations in shelters have been on the general decline in recent years.

While the trend is apparent in areas in both Canada and the U.S., shelters continue to report there is far more work to be done and some areas continue to face burgeoning cat populations – including the Calgary Humane Society (CHS) in Calgary, Alberta.

“The economy is hitting everybody hard, but in Alberta we are right in that oil and gas bubble where there have been massive layoffs and many people forced to downsize or move (out of province) to find work,” explained Sage Pullen McIntosh, spokesperson for the CHS.

The shelter ran an adoption campaign at the end of June, waiving fees for cats older than seven months to help free up space in their overcrowded cat corridors.

While Pullen McIntosh said that their intake was up 185 cats by June 28 of 2016, compared to intake at the same time in 2015, these numbers were not impacted by the early June Ft. MacMurray wildfire dubbed as ‘The Beast’; the shelter did provide emergency boarding for animals from the northern community hard hit by the raging fire, but has since reunited all animals but one cat with their owners.

From Jan. 1-June 28, 2016, the CHS has admitted 2,770 animals, of which 1690 were cats.

Pullen-McIntosh said the information they have gathered from people who surrender their pets (although stray and abandoned cat intake numbers have also risen) indicate job loss, moving and other effects of a downturn in the economy over the last year or so have been the biggest reasons for giving up their pet.

In other areas, however, the combination of improved adoption programs, public education and prevention campaigns and responsible pet ownership seem to be bringing overall shelter cat numbers down and adoptions up.

“We have definitely seen a steady decrease of cat populations in our shelters over the last few years… But overall reduction really isn’t that drastic. We still have much work to do,” said Mary Lou Leiher, who works as a program manager for Toronto Animal Services and is also the president of the Association of Animal Shelter Administrators of Ontario (AASAO).

The AASAO is a unique organization that is an ‘affiliation of professionals committed to excellence in the management and operation of animal care, control and welfare organizations’.

Leiher credits the general reduction from AASAO member shelters, including the City of Toronto and the Ottawa Humane Society, to a number of factors, such as ongoing public education campaigns; successful prevention programs such as the City of Toronto’s CHIP truck for microchipping, licensing and rabies and the SNYP truck for mobile spaying/neutering programs; improved adoption programs through shelters; and the trendiness of choosing to adopt rather than buy from a breeder.

“Shelters have also changed their adoption practices. We understand it’s better to educate people rather than turn them down…people will just go somewhere else if you won’t work with them and then you’ve lost that connection,” explained Leiher.

“If you don’t like the answer, change the conversation.”

These stats of increased adoptions and lowered intake rates of shelter cats are further evidenced by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA).

According to Dr. Emily Weiss, this notion of ‘changing the conversation’ and working with families and individuals looking to adopt pets, rather than turning away people who may otherwise look to less favourable solutions to obtain a pet (puppy mills) has been key to the overall decrease in areas such as New England.

Weiss made note of the American Pet Product Association’s (APPA) pet owners survey where the data shows some significant changes in where people obtain their cats today compared to ten years ago.

By Lindsay Seewalt

Lindsay is an experienced journalist and mother of three whose heart and home is always open to a four-legged friend. With her Corgi, Angie, as household editor-in-chief, Lindsay gives back to the animal planet through the written word on anything and all ado about pets. She is passionate about topics regarding animal welfare and responsible pet ownership, which she aims to instill in both her readers and children to be compassionate animal lovers who are conscious and considerate that furry friends around the globe deserve a voice.

WELFARE - Adopt or Shop?

Released last month, the ‘Horrible Hundred 2016’ by the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) is the fourth annual report naming bad puppy mill breeders, cited for unsanitary facilities, improper care of animals and ‘repeat offenders’ who continue to fail to adhere to USDA inspector requirements.

It’s part of the HSUS Stop Puppy Mills Campaign asking individuals to pledge to not shop at stores selling puppies and adopt their next pet rather than, knowingly or unknowingly, purchase a puppy that may be from a puppy mill.

But for some pet owners, there are many reasons to purchase a dog – including allergies that result in the need for a hypoallergenic breed; negative past experiences, including aggression, from poorly handled shelter dogs; the desire to do showing or competitions requiring knowledge about a dog’s lineage and athletic capabilities; and personal preference.

Advocates for the ‘always adopt’ approach remain steadfast that through careful research, there is a suitable rescue for every individual.

“Our advice is to always adopt - don’t buy a dog or other animal companion,” said Emily Pickett, program coordinator for the Vancouver Humane Society. “There is a good chance that dogs bought at pet stores or online come from puppy mills.”

Puppy mill breeders mainly operate through selling online or through pet stores, and further prompt advocates calling for tougher legislation that would prevent pet stores from purchasing from noted offenders.

The Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council (PIJAC) president and CEO Mike Bober responded to the ‘Horrible Hundred 2016’.

While acknowledging that the list is informative, the official stance of PIJAC is that banning puppy sales altogether, as is the stance of HSUS, is not the best approach:

“We disagree with the HSUS position that puppy mills ‘will end for good only when consumers become educated and stop buying puppies.’  While adopting a shelter pet is a wonderful option for many, it is not for everyone including those with allergies and other circumstances that require a certain breed. Their right to find their perfect pet should not be taken away.

“We in the responsible pet industry are proud to support legislation establishing meaningful sourcing restrictions, rather than well-intentioned but counter-productive sales bans. In this way, we are working to preserve pet choice and transparency while ensuring the health and well-being of companion animals.”

Bober states that while the list is informative, ‘it does nothing to improve animal welfare or to shut down illegal, unregulated puppy mills who actively avoid legally-required licensing and inspection’.

For Pickett, the challenge with legislation pertaining to the regulation of breeders is difficulty in enforcement.

“The British Columbia government recently announced they will be adopting a regulation under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, outlining generally accepted management practices for cat and dog breeders in B.C. and are looking into legislation that will require breeders to be licensed. While in theory this may sound promising, it will prove very difficult to enforce and will not eradicate the pet overpopulation and homelessness issue,” she said.

According to Pickett, around 1.2M dogs (and 1.4M cats) are euthanized annually in the U.S.. With numbers like these, the culprit is certainly overpopulation: pet owners not spaying or neutering, as well as breeders.

Because of these numbers, Pickett she feels there has to be some accountability put on to dog owners choosing breeders over shelters.

“As long as there are animals in need of homes in shelters and rescues, it’s unconscionable that others should continue to be bred and sold.”

Consumers end up in the middle of this issue - wanting to do the right thing, wanting to find a physically and mentally healthy pet, and wanting to find the perfect dog for their family.

For individuals facing this dilemma, the Canadian Federation of Humane Societies recommends adoption first. But if that doesn’t work, they provide detailed information about how to find a responsible breeder so consumers can be confident they aren’t supporting puppy mills.

The Top Dog Store in Calgary had adopted a new retail model to help build consumer confidence in their puppies.

Potential pet owners can also visit B4UGETAPET to help plan for their new addition and determine the best pet for them. 

By Lindsay Seewalt

Lindsay is an experienced journalist and mother of three whose heart and home is always open to a four-legged friend. With her Corgi, Angie, as household editor-in-chief, Lindsay gives back to the animal planet through the written word on anything and all ado about pets. She is passionate about topics regarding animal welfare and responsible pet ownership, which she aims to instill in both her readers and children to be compassionate animal lovers who are conscious and considerate that furry friends around the globe deserve a voice.

Importing Dogs Into Canada - Too Risky or the Right Thing to do?

(Andi, Little Mutts Rescue Society)

Dog rescue has long been promoted as one of the most responsible forms of dog ownership: providing the forever home for an unwanted canine that is part of the aftermath of a natural disaster; coming from an abusive or neglectful environment; or, most commonly, is a result of pet overpopulation.

For some, rescue efforts should be concentrated on the home front and until there is no need for humane societies to assist local pet populations there is no reason to be importing dogs from outside Canada – namely parts of the southern U.S. and Mexico.

For others, a life is a life and dogs that are part of the unintended consequences of natural disasters or living in states of neglect or poverty need assistance and borders should not matter.

This debate has been playing out across the country amongst rescue groups, humane societies, veterinarians and pet stores for several years, leaving many potential pet owners confused about ‘how to do the right thing’ when getting a dog.

Amy Gowertz is the founder/director of Little Mutts Rescue Society based in Calgary, Alberta, a non-profit society with an average intake of 5-15 dogs monthly; they only rescue small breed dogs (under 30 pounds) mostly from Mexico and the U.S.

According to Gowertz, organizations such as hers are not in competition with local shelters; rather, they fill a growing gap for people seeking small breeds as rescue pets, as the majority of shelter dogs in Canada have an intake of larger breeds.

“People get frustrated, as they feel they are always missing out on the smaller dogs in the local humane societies, and so they end up buying dogs from local pet stores that (often) get their dogs from puppy mills or backyard breeders,” explained Gowertz, whose own first two rescues came from the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

Last year Kathy Powelson, the founder of the Paws For Hope Animal Foundation, called for government regulation of animal adoption groups that are bringing dogs into B.C. from U.S. animal shelters, citing behaviour concerns.

“We are having large and unstable dogs being brought over the border and placed with families with no temperament testing being done or any attempt to match the dog with its adoptive family,” Powelson told the Vancouver Sun.

Associate Veterinary Clinics vet, Dr. Drew Van Niekerk, said the primary concern regarding foreign dog rescue among vets is infectious disease – citing heartworm (found in every province in Canada except Alberta and Saskatchewan) as an example.

“When you are free of an infectious disease in an area (region), once you have it, it’s very, very hard to get rid of it,” Van Niekerk said, noting that heartworm was said to have spread in Kelowna, B.C. from a bloodhound breeder bringing animals from the south to his property with a high mosquito population; once the heartworm circulates back and forth from the animals to the mosquitos it creates an environment for the heartworm to survive and thrive.

Cold prairie nights have staved off heartworm in Alberta and Saskatchewan so far, but that could change if more carriers are brought in.

“That doesn’t mean it’s wrong to adopt foreign dogs, only that we have to be diligent about it,” said Van Niekerk, stressing that animals are mainly screened for apparent diseases, such as rabies, at the border and not things like intestinal and skin parasites or blood-borne diseases.

He also noted that people need to do their research on which rescue shelter they adopt through – some that market themselves as no-kill shelters really means ‘limited entry’ as euthanasia is normally only a necessary means to an end. “This whole battle of who cares more is ridiculous – we are all in it to help animals.”

Sage Pullen-McIntosh is the spokesperson for the Calgary Humane Society (CHS). While the CHS sees very few foreign dogs brought into their shelter – it does happen. And for them, the concern is always the unknown.

Owner surrenders assist CHS staff to understand as much as possible about the animal’s health, behaviour and assess what resources would be needed to rehome the animal. When a dog is brought in as a surrender and its roots go back across borders, the clarity of history becomes poorer and there is always a risk these animals could be carrying pathogens or parasites that could pose health risks to other dogs.

For Gowertz, the overpopulation in shelters south of the border means that many of those dogs will inevitably wind up euthanized and for her, those dogs are worth fighting for.

In the meantime, the number of rescue organizations and number of animals imported from other countries into Canada continues to grow.

The best advice for the consumer looking for a new pet?

Research and understand the risks. Ensure the organization you are adopting from has done adequate health and behaviour assessments on the dog and is focused on matching you with the right dog for your family.

By Lindsay Seewalt

Lindsay is an experienced journalist and mother of three whose heart and home is always open to a four-legged friend. With her Corgi, Angie, as household editor-in-chief, Lindsay gives back to the animal planet through the written word on anything and all ado about pets. She is passionate about topics regarding animal welfare and responsible pet ownership, which she aims to instill in both her readers and children to be compassionate animal lovers who are conscious and considerate that furry friends around the globe deserve a voice.

Bissell and Puppy Bowl Help Animals in Shelters/Foster Care

It’s become a Super Bowl Sunday tradition and 2016 is no exception. Puppy Bowl XII, which promotes pet adoption, is set to air on Animal Planet this Sunday February 7th.

This year, Puppy Bowl teamed up with 44 animal shelter and rescue organizations to fill the rosters of #TeamRuff and #TeamFluff with adoptable dogs. The network also is partnering with the Pro Football Hall of Fame to introduce the Puppy Bowl Hall of Fame to honor legacy players throughout the show and promote the adoption of older "veteran" animals in addition to puppies and kittens.

The Kitty Half-Time Show brings a cat-astrophic San Francisco inspired kitten takeover to the Bay Area. These ferocious felines are on a spree of cat-aclismic destruction as they paw across historic landmarks including the Golden Gate Bridge, Fisherman's Wharf and infamous "Al-Cat-Raz."

Bissell, a long time Puppy Bowl sponsor, is giving an extra dose of adorable to Puppy Bowl viewers on PetHappens.com. Starting at 3 p.m. ET, 10 rescue puppies will be released into an all-white room. Live viewers will be encouraged to tweet or post on Instagram with #PetHappens. Their posts will unlock a series of different messes into the room with the pups.

When all of the messes have been unleashed and the puppies are ready for a nap, Bissell will clean the space and restore it to its original sparkling white condition. Each use of #PetHappens between now and March 31 will trigger a $5 donation (up to $100,000) to the Bissell Pet Foundation to support animals in shelters and foster care.

Mobile adoption centre scoops up 2014 Homing Summit

Left to right: Katy Walker, AC&C Adoption Outreach Coordinator;
Risa Weinstock, AC&C Executive Director; Anamarie Johnson,
AC&C Foster and Events Liaison; Ashlee Krammer,
AC&C Adoption Counselor; and Susan Wolfe, AC&C volunteer.
Photo Credit: NYC AC&C

PRESS RELEASE 

Calgary, AB – Animal Care & Control of NYC (AC&C)’s new Mobile Adoption Center garnered international attention last month when it was presented with the 2014 Summit Award for Homing. 

The vehicle enables AC&C to bring shelter dogs and cats to previously unreachable New Yorkers looking to adopt throughout the five boroughs.  More than 300 dogs and cats from AC&C have been adopted at mobile adoption events since the Mobile Adoption Center—sponsored by the ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals ®) and FENWICK KEATS Real Estate—launched earlier this year.

Photo Credit: NYC AC&C

Summit Awards have been part of the Urban Animal program since its inception in 2006. Summits are a peer-recognition program illuminating the achievements of those who toil in the trenches of the industry. In 2014, the Summits experienced record-breaking numbers with nearly 5,000 votes cast for 37 individuals and organizations in 12 categories.

Four nominees vied for the prestigious Homing Award in 2014. AC&C received 59% of the votes. Summit Award winners were announced during the Summit Awards Gala, October 24, 2014. 

AC&C’s Mobile Adoption Center will be at Petco Union Square on November 28 (4-7pm) and FENWICK KEATS Real Estate on November 29 (12-4pm). Details on upcoming adoption events are available on AC&C’s website at http://nycacc.org/Events.htm.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Shannon Woodward, Communications Coordinator

(p) 403.208.1972 (e) Shannon.woodward@petlynxmail.com

ABOUT URBAN ANIMAL PROGRAM: The Urban Animal Program (UAP) began eight years ago with the vision of uniting the sectors of a fragmented animal industry in order to solve some of the chronic urban animal challenges facing our communities.  The group identified the need to explore strategic problem solving using a more inclusive approach.

The UAP has grown successfully through the addition of high quality speakers and key opinion leaders in all sectors, and has achieved tremendous momentum, fuelled by the intense desire for positive change.  Delegates have always decided which subjects warrant discussion.  Hosted by the PetLynx Corporation since its inception, the Urban Animal Program utilizes sponsorship to fund the Urban Animal Summit and Urban Animal Regional Conferences.  The animal industry, communities, pet families and the pet are the direct beneficiaries of this sponsorship, as leaders take these discussions, projects and initiatives back to their communities.  There is a strong track record of spawning valuable collaborations from the UAP. 

About Animal Care & Control of NYC

Animal Care & Control of NYC (AC&C) is one of the largest animal welfare organizations in the United States, taking in approximately 30,000 animals each year. AC&C is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that rescues, cares for and finds loving homes for animals throughout NYC’s  five boroughs. AC&C has a contract with the City of New York to be an open-admissions organization, which means it never turns away any homeless, abandoned, injured or sick animal in need of help, including cats, dogs, rabbits, small mammals, reptiles, birds, farm animals and wildlife. It is the only organization in NYC with this unique responsibility. Visit www.nycacc.org for more information, and follow AC&C at facebook.com/NYCACC and @NYCACC.

Rescue Dogs from California Illuminates Sourcing Issues

Drew Van Niekerk

InfoStream Staff Writer

Rescue organizations continue to make news with continually evolving efforts to rehome stray, surrendered or abandoned pets. 

READ THE STORY 

“Thank Dog I’m Out” is a British Columbia based Canadian “rescue” organization that imports dogs from California shelters, transported via Bellingham Washington in collaboration with Wings of Rescue who flew dogs from California. B.C. families rallied to foster and adopt 100 dogs from California shelters through TDIO, again raising awareness that numbers of dogs available for adoption in Canadian shelters have dropped over the years. 

Sources of pets as puppies, kittens or re-homed adults has received considerable discussion with the Alliance for Urban Animals at the Regional Urban Animal Conferences and the annual International Summit for Urban Animal Strategies www.urbananimal.com. While some argue that pet families should only be adopting animals, breeders maintain that purposeful breed stock must be maintained, and consumers remain the driving force in demand for new pets, and it seems their appetite is still strong. 

Discussions continue over whether importation of pets is right or wrong, raising issues like the possible importation of disease with pets; or whether the efforts over years of humane and rescue work done locally are completely resolved. 

Are the efforts of an importation rescue service merely supporting unresolved overpopulation and breeding issues in places like California? What measures are in place to trace the origins of pets in shelters that are ‘rescued’? These are questions being asked by members of the animal industry in Canada.

Meanwhile, Canadian Kennel Club breeder registration numbers are dropping and pet stores are being picketed to close to pet sales. Quality breeders are struggling to justify their place in the supply chain but rescues allow an alternate, arguably broken, supply chain to function by gathering up the unwanted from that process. These are significant points to consider. 

Perhaps the transparency of knowing where every animal came would allow consumers to make educated choices and adopters to have all the facts.  Perhaps then the hard working people in the animal industry could focus their efforts on sourcing or ‘re-sourcing’ pets into homes in the best possible way without the judgment they currently face? After all, the market demands for pets are not linear, some families want purebreds, some want rescues. Other families want crossbred non-registered pets and still others prefer local and some folks will cross the country to buy or adopt. How could there be one answer?