The marked increase in the cost of living is reflected in an increase in the abandonment of animals in shelters, underlines the Montreal SPCA.
According to its general manager, Sophie Gaillard, approximately 20 animals are abandoned every day at the shelter for financial reasons, a reality that other organizations also experience on a daily basis.
Since the beginning of the year, the Montreal SPCA has welcomed 113 cats and 81 dogs more than in 2022, for the same period.
“It’s not necessarily that people are irresponsible or that they no longer love their animal,” she insists on qualifying in an interview with The Canadian Press. These are people who are forced to abandon their animals because they no longer have the means to take care of them. »
The difficulty of finding affordable housing that accepts animals, loss of employment, excessive veterinary costs, separation and other vagaries of life can lead a person to have to entrust their companion to a shelter.
This is because many pet owners underestimate the real cost of adopting a dog or a cat, among other things, especially since these little companions have an average life expectancy of a dozen to fifteen years.
“It is indeed not within the reach of everyone”, recognizes Mme Guy.
“In addition to the initial cost of acquiring an animal, other costs must be considered: food and treats, grooming, education courses, the purchase of litter, toys, hiding places , scratching posts and other accessories, ”recalls on its website the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPAQ), which has jurisdiction over pets.
Added to this are basic veterinary costs such as vaccination, deworming and sterilization, in addition to other care that may arise if the animal is injured or has health problems.
According to figures put forward by the Association of Veterinary Physicians of Quebec, it would cost approximately $2,300 annually for an adult cat and $2,700 for an adult dog to meet their basic needs, an amount that can still vary from breed to breed and animal to animal.
The amount is higher for young animals, which need more care during their first year of life.
This dispatch was produced with the financial assistance of the Meta Exchange and The Canadian Press for the news.