Shelters have seen a significant surge in adoptions over the past year, particularly in the SPA de Québec, which has hit a new peak, but this could be a result of pandemic-related abandonments.
A total of 3,200 animals housed at SPA de Québec found new families in 2022, a record for almost 150 years. This is a 22% increase in adoptions compared to last year when 2,625 animals found new families. Although less, a similar situation can be observed at the Montreal SPCA, where 4,018 animals were adopted, or 28% more than in 2021.
This data, which seems positive to say the least, hides a dark side. If there could have been so many adoptions in the past year, it is partly because of a significant increase in abandonment.
In the SPA de Québec, shelter admissions increased by 15% compared to the average, while in the metropolitan area there was a 9% increase compared to the previous year.
A phenomenon that will only get worse
However, the experts warned the population when everyone rushed to adopt an animal in the first year of the pandemic, emphasizes Sophie Gaillard, acting director general of the Montreal SPCA.
“We see this situation across the country. We expect it to continue to increase in the coming years, now that 52% of Quebecers own a dog or cat,” she says. Ms Gaillard also believes that the phenomenon will intensify in the coming years, particularly as the cost of living increases.
“It’s a hypothesis, but we fear that we’ll be eating our black bread for a few more years,” complains Félix Tremblay in the old capital.
Archive photo, Didier Debusschère
Felix Tremblay
DG SPA Quebec
urgent needs
The Director General of the SPA de Québec also recalled the need for new premises to meet the growing needs of the population.
“When I’m within a hair’s breadth of crowded euthanasia and have staff on the verge of burnout almost every week, I guess you could say we’re at our wits end,” says Mr. Tremblay. The latter wants help from the city of Quebec to build larger housing and hire more staff.
“We’ve reached our ultimate limit,” he says.
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