Corgi puppies Bonnie & Henry, named after BC’s Provincial Health Officer, along with their mom, have all found loving homes through the BC SPCA amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Animal shelters across Canada are feeling the effects of the coronavirus pandemic and are looking to the support of the community now more than ever to help pets in need. Just one example is the British Columbia SPCA, who is bracing for the anticipated influx of pets to their shelter amid COVID-19, as Canadian pet parents face loss of income, unemployment and illness.
As the coronavirus pandemic continues to affect Canadians across the country, people are looking for ways to help pets during this uncertain time. In British Columbia, the support for pets in need has been a source of hope as hundreds answer the call to help the BC SPCA.
“Because of the pandemic, our shelters are closed to the public, but it’s been heartwarming to see how the community has stepped up to help,” says Trevor Harvey, Senior Officer of Philanthropy at the BC SPCA. “In the past 2 weeks, we’ve adopted out over 400 pets as people have opened their homes while self-isolating.”
The surge in adoptions comes on the heels of province-wide stay at home orders in BC. Some Canadians are seeing the time spent at home as the ideal opportunity to bring home a new pet, as being homebound is allowing them to be with the pet as they adjust to their new forever family.
Adding a pet to your home while self-isolating can provide a welcome distraction.
Fostering a Shelter Pet While in Quarantine
“Since the beginning of the pandemic, we have been focusing on preparing for the increased need we expect to see as a result of COVID-19. By finding foster homes for the pets currently in our care, it will allow us to make space to take in new pets of those affected by the pandemic.” says Harvey.
Not only have people in BC opened their homes and hearts by adopting, but the BC SPCA has seen over 200 additional foster families volunteer in the past few weeks, a truly remarkable increase in such a short period of time. Being able to move so many pets into foster families frees up valuable space in the shelter as they expect the intake of pets to increase in the coming weeks and months. “We have yet to see the full impact of COVID-19 related surrenders,” adds Harvey, “but we want to do everything we can to prepare and brace ourselves the best we can.”
The BC SPCA, like many shelters across Canada, is also anticipating an escalation in the need for compassionate temporary boarding of owned pets as people simply are unable to care for their pets due to COVID-19 related hospitalizations or quarantine orders. In these uncertain times, they will also be able to provide emergency supplies such as pet food and vet care to people living in vulnerable populations who need help caring for their pets.
Hiccup, one of the many cats in foster homes awaiting a loving home through BC SPCA.
PetSmart Charities of Canada is proud to partner with the British Columbia SPCA on this important work, especially during times of crisis. It is through this partnership and the support of the community that we will get through this pandemic, together.
If you’d like to help a pet in need through adoption or fostering, visit our Ways to Adopt page here.
To learn more about their COVID-19 response and current needs, visit the British Columbia SPCA at their website: https://spca.bc.ca/
