Consider adopting a pet this holiday season: SPCA

Christmas is the time for giving, and this year might be the right time to add a furry new member to the family.

Trisha Mortson, acting executive director for the Saskatoon SPCA, says there has been a decrease in adoptions since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

She noted there are plenty of ways to give back, through fostering, sponsoring or adopting animals.

“We’re assuming that the market was a little bit saturated because quite a few people adopted during COVID,” she said, adding adoption rates could be affected by individuals returning to the office, spending less time at home, or having already taken in new animals.

Mortson said the number of animals brought to the shelter fluctuates daily at the SPCA. But it’s almost at full capacity when it comes to cats, and animal control officers bring in animals almost daily.

“We’ve seen quite a jump in the number of dogs coming to the shelter,” she says, noting it’s a record number.

For those looking to take home a furry friend, Mortson says it’s important to do your homework by finding out what type of animal best suits you and your family.

Home environment, and the amount of time available to spend with the animal are also key factors to consider.

For dog lovers, researching size and energy levels should also be considered.

For those who spend long periods of time away from the house, Mortson says a cat might be the best fit because of their independence.

“We often suggest adopting two at the same time, because they’ll keep each other company,” she said.

Mortson says online application forms can be filled out on the SPCA website prior to a visit for those looking to adopt.

“If they come into the shelter and fall in love with an animal, their application is already on file,” she said, noting it speeds up the process.

Recently, the SPCA has been running a “Foster to Adopt” program with certain dogs, including puppies.

Mortson said some dogs at the shelter cannot be adopted immediately, as they’re not at the stage to be spayed or neutered, but the Foster to Adopt program gives individuals the opportunity to take home the animal to foster.

That also provides more space at the SPCA.

When it’s time to bring back the animal for their surgery, Mortson says the fostering family will have first choice when it comes to taking them home.

“If they feel they’ve connected with this animal and it’s a good fit for (their) family, then they can adopt,” she said.

There are other ways to give back to animals in need. Currently, the SPCA is currently putting out a “2022 Holiday Gift Guide.”

The gift guide is geared towards helping animals at the shelter, including enrichment items to keep animals stress free, specialty food, behaviour and training assessments, or sponsoring the cost for animal care.

The SPCA Auxiliary recently had a Christmas for the Animals open house, which was a fundraiser that collected money for the “Second Chance Fund” to raise money for animals in need of extra surgeries and medical care.

More information on adoption, sponsoring or fostering can be found at the Saskatoon SPCA’s website.