“Pet Surrenders on the Rise as Pandemic-Adopted Animals Struggle to Find Forever Homes”
London and area residents are facing a new challenge as the city continues to see an influx of pets being surrendered to local rescue agencies and the London Animal Care Centre. Despite nearly two years passing since the end of the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns, pets that were adopted during that time are still being given up by their owners.
According to Lisa Baer, animal care manager at the London Animal Care Centre, the surge in pet surrenders can be attributed to the breeding of animals to meet the high demand for adoptions during the pandemic. “They’re being bred faster than we can find homes for them, unfortunately. They just go on Kijiji, things like that. They’re not being properly vetted, so they don’t tend to stay in the homes that they’re put in,” Baer explained.
To address the issue, the city hosted its third Rescue Rendezvous event at the London Catty Shack, featuring 20 cats and two husky pups up for adoption. Baer noted that the summer season, known as “kitten season,” brings a high intake of cats and kittens to local rescue facilities, putting a strain on resources.
Wade Jeffery, manager of community compliance and animal welfare services, highlighted the importance of raising awareness about the Catty Shack as a facility for adopting cats and kittens. “The Catty Shack is a facility that is owned by the city and run by London Animal Care, and it houses wonderful cats and kittens up for adoption, and it’s a great place to come and find your next furry friend,” Jeffery said.
Baer advised potential pet adopters to do their research and be prepared for the long-term commitment of owning a pet. “Pets live a long time so it’s not something that you want to adopt a pet just to keep for a year or two. It’s something that you want to commit to and keep up your entire life,” she emphasized.
For those interested in adopting a pet, the Catty Shack is located at 756 Windermere Rd. in London. The facility provides a temporary home for healthy, well-adjusted, and vaccinated cats awaiting their forever families.
