Bob, (left) and Sam, both of which were adopted from the BC SPCA, are looking forward to enjoying the holidays as members of a real home.
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Bring them home for the holidays
PCA suggests animals from shelters if you're determined to give a pet as a gift this Christmas
The Province
SPCA shelters around the province always have hundreds of wonderful animals waiting for loving homes. But at this time of year the numbers increase. "Currently, we have 4,000 beautiful, deserving animals in care, desperately waiting for a family to call their own," says Lorie Chortyk, BC SPCA general manager of community relations.
BC SPCA staff suspect that one of the reasons there are so many animals in shelters is the misperception that shelter animals are second-class pets. "Nothing could be further from the truth," says Kim Monteith, regional animal welfare manager supervisor for the BC SPCA. "They are smart, funny, affectionate animals who are only in shelters because their human companions couldn't - or wouldn't - take care of them."
While the BC SPCA strongly advocates against giving animals as gifts, Chortyk encourages people who are already considering adding an animal to their family, and are fully aware of the responsibilities, to consider adoption throughout December during the BC SPCA's Home for the Holidays pet adoption drive.
Chortyk adopted one of her own dogs, a Havanese mix named Sam, from the BC SPCA five years ago this Christmas. Just six months old at the time, Sam had been found wandering the streets as a stray. "I think one of the advantages of adopting a new pet at this time of year is that people quite often take time off over the holidays. When I adopted Sam I was on vacation and had quality time to spend with him, getting him used to his new home and family. And of course it was fun watching him enjoy his first Christmas."
Bringing an animal home from a BC SPCA shelter is really no different from getting an animal elsewhere, says Monteith. "There are many types, breeds, ages and personalities and we carefully match new guardians and pets. SPCA animals are spayed or neutered, vaccinated, have permanent pet identification and undergo a behavioural assessment to determine their personalities and how they will react in their new home. Additionally, we have developed a new, innovative training program for cats and dogs that helps them be healthier and happier companions."
The new program, comprising clicker training for cats and "nosework" for dogs, was recently implemented at the Vancouver SPCA shelter, and will soon be used in all BC SPCA shelters. "You may think training a cat is an oxymoron, but actually cats love learning new things," says Dr. Pat Pryor, BC SPCA general manager of animal welfare. "Both dogs and cats are highly intelligent animals who need engagement. Training them while we are caring for them not only enriches their lives while they wait for a permanent home, it also ensures that new adopters are taking home an animal who will be more responsive to their new guardian's training."
Some of the games for dogs involve hiding treats or scented items and sending the dog to "find" them. This is great fun, especially in bad weather or for dogs who aren't usually motivated to play games. Cats benefit from clicker training by getting a good mental and physical workout - a big issue for cats in shelters is boredom - and it is a great confidence builder for timid cats.
"As much fun as we have training them in the shelters, what the animals really need is the complexity of a home environment to use all their senses and to satisfy their desire to learn," Pryor says. Chortyk says it is sad to think of animals spending the holidays at a shelter. "Our staff and volunteers do an outstanding job of nurturing the animals, but there is no substitute for being part of a permanent, loving family."
To view adoptable animals by location, breed, or other characteristics visit bcpetsearch.com.
Lauryn Hayden is communications officer for the BC SPCA. Contact her at lhayden@spca.bc.ca.
