http://www.theprovince.com/Life/Pets+being+given+hard+times+groups/1414697/story.html
By Frank Luba, The ProvinceMarch 21, 2009
During tough economic times, pets are often the first thing people give up.
Pets are one of those things, according to Jan Olson of Surrey-based Better Life Dog Rescue.
She knows the tough economic times have already had a big effect in the U.S. as her group has found homes for more than 100 dogs from hard-hit California.
But Olson thinks the crisis is here, too.
“It’s rampant,” said Olson yesterday. “It’s the worst it’s ever been and I think the economic times have a lot to do with it.”
Instead of running a shelter, Olson’s group finds permanent or foster homes for abandoned dogs. Normally she gets a plea for help every two weeks.
Yesterday alone she received two calls.
One was from a dog owner going from a big home to a townhouse that didn’t allow pets while another was from a man who was living in his van with two dogs.
“It’s probably quadrupled, the number of calls we get,” she said.
But Bob Busch, manager of operations for the B.C. Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, said there has only been a “slight increase” in surrenders to his organization.
“We have seen a slight increase in the number of animals surrendered to the SPCA over the last six months, especially really large dogs that people can’t afford to look after any more,” said Busch.
Olson believes that’s because “the SPCA charges people to take their dogs in.”
The B.C. SPCA’s 37 shelters take in 40,000 animals annually and manager of community relations Lori Chortyk said the increase in animals being surrendered wasn’t “significant.”
But she acknowledged the situation could change.
“I think we’re just starting to see the impact of the economic changes here in B.C.,” said Chortyk.
Christine Reed, executive director of the Fraser Valley Humane Society, agrees that pets are one of the first luxuries people discard.
“The most common story is that people have lost employment and have to move and often they cannot find somewhere they can take their pets with them,” said Reed, whose small Mission non-profit shelter deals strictly with cats.
“In the last two to three months, we have seen probably a 20- to 25-per-cent increase in the number of surrenders,” said Reed.
She thinks more cats are simply abandoned.
“I would imagine many of them are are put out the door, as opposed to asking to bring them in,” said Reed, whose shelter is currently in a “quiet” period with only 50 felines.