Animal shelters finding innovative solutions to address increase in pet surrenders

As pet surrenders return to pre-pandemic levels, animal rescues across Canada are coming up with creative ways to make it easier for pet lovers to bring a homeless pet into their homes.

"The reasons pets are surrendered are complex," says Pet Valu Chief Digital and Marketing Officer Tanbir Grover. "Lifestyle changes, including a return to work, allergies, cost and accessibility of vet care, the need or desire to travel more and other reasons all impact a decision to surrender a pet."

"We're seeing a lot of people that can't afford vet care, training, even food and basic supplies for the animal. So that's a very big struggle," said Janet Bredin, shelter manager for the North Bay & District Humane Society.

With surrender rates returning to pre-pandemic levels and adoption rates down from the highs of the COVID-19 lockdowns, Bredin said her shelter has introduced a foster-to-adopt program which is much like a trial adoption. The shelter provides all of the food, supplies and veterinary care the animal needs while in the foster home and all the family has to do is to take care of the pet's daily needs and provide lots of love.

"We try to kind of hold their hand a little bit longer than we used to to make sure that they're not stuck with something that they can't take care of."

Bredin said the trial adoption program has a high success rate and notes that much of it is made possible by support from  community donors like Pet Valu.

"We have a really wonderful working relationship with them. We could call them and if we asked them to move the world for us, they would. They're just an absolutely amazing ally for us."

Bredin said her shelter received a grant towards a truck and trailer through Pet Valu's "Companions for Change" program which enables the shelter to transport homeless pets from northern Ontario to adoption events throughout Ontario. Through these events, Grover said people can meet the animals and discuss the benefits of adopting a rescue pet.

"Pet Valu is deeply committed to giving back and, through our 'Companions for Change' grants program, we support a range of pet-related organizations across Canada including local animal rescues and shelters," said Grover. He added that over the past 10 years Pet Valu has raised over $23 million in funds and corporate donations for Canadian animal rescues and charities and it has found forever homes for more than 41,000 homeless pets.

"Having a pet is not always easy. It comes with challenges, but it's always worth it," said Grover.

This is paid content produced on behalf of Pet Valu. This is not CBC journalistic content. To learn more about Advertising and Paid Content on CBC click here.