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.

Alliance for Urban Animals - Allies Creating Healthy Communities for Pets & People

The urban animal industry is fractured. All too often, pet families discover negativity, judgement and mixed messaging from interactions with our industry sectors.  The sectors often work independently and and compete with one another for revenues, client loyalty and business.  While most care very deeply about animals, there is a tendency to compete to prove “we care more”, often at the expense of others’ reputation.

Watch the Pet Sourcing Dilemma on YouTube! 

During the 2014 Urban Animal Regional Conference Tour, Dr. Drew Van Niekerk examined the impacts of animal sourcing on a positive pet experience. What he determined, is that pet families and communities are confused about priorities and issues, and skeptical of the urban animal industry. When sectors work against one another, pet families struggle to find trustworthy information and resources, which in turn leads to negative pet experiences.  Most pet owners don’t want to be embroiled in the controversial polarizing issues we often find so important.  They want to avoid the guilt, judgement and negativity associated with this.  The result is that they choose the path of least resistance and disengage, becoming reactive pet families.

Pet families and consumers are confused and bitter and we wonder why they’re not “responsible". We haven’t created an environment conducive to a positive pet experience. In order to engage these communities, we need to create an alliance of like-minded industry thought leaders. 

The Alliance for Urban Animals are individuals and organizations who:

1.  choose to communicate in respectful, open, positive ways
2.  are willing to suspend beliefs in favour of inspiration, evidence and new ideas
3.  who prefer collective intelligence and empathy over an individual win
4.  who collaborate in the development of resources to build healthy communities for pets and people, and

5.  focus on creating a positive pet experience

Kijiji's Shawn McIntyre on "Pets for Sale"

Earlier this month, Kijiji announced it is charging $4.99 for all dog listings on its site. This measure is will provide Kijiji with additional information to assist in actions against illegal pet vendors. 

Shawn McIntyre is the Community Relations Manager at Kijiji. The on-line ‘buy and sell’ service was launched in Montréal and Quebec City in February 2005. It is now in more than 100 communities across the country and is ranked as Canada’s #1 online classified site. Shawn took time out of his busy schedule to speak with Infostream Guest Author TerriPerrin about Kijiji’s new program that makes people who sell dogs and puppies online more accountable.

Infostream (IS): We understand that Kijiji gets feedback – both positive and negative – relating to the sale of companion animals on line. How do you respond to it?

Shawn McIntyre (SM): Obviously, we value every piece of feedback we receive and I [personally] review 100% of the comments that come to us. Almost all of the positive changes we have made to the ‘Pets for Sale’ category have resulted from our responses to community feedback, which includes animal welfare groups across the country. We believe our connection with our communities is what has set us apart from our competitors. My family has several pets also, so we strive to be the best pet-parents we can. 

IS: What role do you think Kijiji plays in the whole ‘pets for sale’ process, relating to puppy mills and irresponsible breeders?

In a perfect world, we would have much more robust and comprehensive laws protecting animals in Canada. We do not live in this world, however. Considering the industry as a whole, I think it is EVERYONE’S responsibility to do what we can to encourage compliant breeders and shine a light on less scrupulous ones.  Kijiji wants to provide a safe channel for our users to find or re-home companion animals, so we have a responsibility to do our best to deliver on this vision. 

IS: We understand that Kijiji rolled out a new program earlier this month. Please tell us about that.

SM: We now have a fee of $4.99 to post an advertisement for Dogs and Puppies for sale.  All users, except for shelters and rescues, must pay this fee. We expect this to add an extra layer of accountability for users posting, as well as traceability, as users will need to use a valid credit card or a PayPal account to post an ad. 

IS: Are these initiatives being undertaken to remove some of the negative connotations associated with selling companion animals on line? Or is this a case of your organization simply choosing to take the proverbial ‘high road’ to set standards of excellence and responsibility and to foster community collaboration?

SM: The $4.99 fee initiative is the product of a few years of brainstorming with members of the community. We think it will cut down on impulsive posting, as well as deter any unethical users. We feel it is the right thing to do. The proceeds also allow us to better support this category, with more filters and community support staff. A portion of these proceeds will also be directly invested back into community-based animal welfare initiatives across the country. 

IS: It sounds like this really is ‘beyond the call of duty’ for your organization. What drives you and your colleagues to focus on the Pet Experience?

SM: We’ve always had a keen focus on our community of users.  Even now that the Kijiji community has grown to 15 million Canadians, we still love engaging with our users in a direct way.  Our users are especially passionate about our Pets category, so it’s only natural that we share this passion.

IS: You attended your first Summit for Urban Animal Strategies in 2008. Now, in 2014, you will give the keynote address. Congratulations! What where your initial thoughts after attending your first Summit and how does it feel to now be considered one of the industry experts?

SM: Thanks! My first personal experience with the Summit was a very positive and inspiring one. My initial thought about this industry was how ‘siloed’ it was, with so many people doing such great work in their own communities, but very little collaboration with each other. The increased collaboration and amazing work achieved in the last six years is truly staggering. I am just happy to have witnessed so many great initiatives pushed forward by incredible, passionate people.

IS: Tell us about what you will be presenting in your keynote address?

SM: I look forward to opening a discussion on how we can continue to collaborate onto the “next level”.  In an industry with so many strong proud voices, it’s easy to understand how these voices speaking simultaneously can quickly become just “noise”— especially in these times of Internet marketing and social media. Through a collaborative community, we can leverage what we already have to form one “voice” to speak for animals.  Achieving this can be easier than a lot of people think.

IS: Thank you for taking the time to collaborate with us on this interview, Shawn. And congratulations on the good work that you and the entire Kijiji team is doing to address community concerns about pets for sale. Your efforts are making a difference!