BONNYVILLE – The Bonnyville and District SPCA has temporarily closed its doors to new intakes of both dogs and cats, following an unprecedented high volume of kitten populations and dog surrenders.
Taking to social media on July 5, the non-profit expressed that it was stretched beyond its capacity and could no longer accept any other animal at the facility.
At the time the post was made, the local SPCA was caring for 52 cats and kittens, and 12 dogs, the shelter’s manager Judith Rodriguez, told Lakeland This Week.
The capacity for the shelter is 30 cats and 12 dogs, but with numerous mother cats and kittens in care, the facility is housing far more than is intended.
“We are working on transferring some of our kittens and dogs to other organizations, but everyone is experiencing the same thing we are,” she said. “This has become an almost unbearable season for mommies and kittens.”
Before the SPCA can start to accept surrendered or stray animals again, they will need to adopt or relocate enough animals to reach a threshold of 25 cats and six dogs.
Spaying and neutering pets is the best way to reduce the number of animals in need of homes, explains Rodriguez.
“Even if we expand, (The SPCA) will never be big enough if we don’t get the cat and dog population under control,” she said.
Rodriguez believes that this year's overpopulation of animals may still be “a consequence of COVID.”
At the beginning of the pandemic, the demand for puppies, kittens and dogs during the lockdowns exceeded the supply of animals available from breeders and many animal shelters.
With much of the population returning to work and office jobs in the last year, shelters like the Bonnyville SPCA have seen a significant increase in dogs being surrendered, she says.
Over the years, the cost of spaying and neutering animals has also risen, compounding the problems felt by animal shelters that continue to see growing numbers of dogs and outdoor cats being brought in.
“We ask the public to be patient. We just can’t take in anymore until there is more room.”
Rodriguez adds that the waiting list to surrender pets or bring strays into the facility is quite long, but that people will be contacted once the shelter reopens intakes.
The Bonnyville SPCA is also a no-kill shelter, meaning that animals must be re-homed in order to create space.
“We don’t believe in taking a life to save a life,” she said. “That would go against everything we believe.”
How to help
The SPCA is currently in desperate need of wet food for kittens and dogs.
While the shelter does have sufficient dry food and wet food for adult cats at the moment, they do not have enough wet food for the high volume of kittens that are in care.
Kitten-specific food is necessary because it contains more fats, proteins, and calories than what is added to adult cat food.
Anyone interested in adopting a cat or dog can also visit www.bonnyvillespca.com to view adoptable pets.
