The best way to surrender a pet you can no longer care for is to contact the Moose Jaw Humane Society
The Moose Jaw Humane Society has seen an alarming increase in the number of pets surrendered over the past two months. Some of these animals are simply dumped on the side of the road or, in more recent cases, in sealed boxes.
“We don't want people to go through that,” said Dana Haukas, executive director of the Humane Society. “We want to help you with your (pet). Give us a little time and we'll try to make space for you.”
The most common abandonment scenarios involve cats, usually cats causing a nuisance on someone's property. As a result, they are driven out into the countryside and left behind on farms.
In the case of dogs, a typical scenario is a pet dog running away and getting lost in the countryside. Due to the recent increase, several stray dogs were also found within the city limits. No one has claimed ownership of these stray pets, suggesting that they too were abandoned.
The intake included two Great Danes, an Irish wolfhound border collie mix named Gunner, and a mongrel dog named Scottie. Haukers said all four dogs were adopted within two weeks.
“When it was minus 45 degrees (Celsius), (our staff) got a call… Two Great Dane mixes showed up on a property. They wouldn't leave and stayed there for 48 hours. “I was there,” she explained.
“They were both very hungry, very thin and very scared.”
The family who discovered these animals did not have the proper knowledge on how to interact with these animals, so they called the Humane Society for advice.
“It took an hour to win (the woman's) trust in particular. If she was really abandoned by the country, she has no incentive to trust humans anymore,” Haukers explained.
“When we put them in the car, it was like they had been together forever.”
While the man was sadly diagnosed with cancer and had to be humanely killed, the female Dane experienced a positive outcome.
Now named Boo, she has made a full recovery and was adopted by a new loving family on February 1st. She is currently growing well and she is scheduled to be spayed around the middle of this month. In such cases, the shelter will cover the cost of the procedure.
During the same cold snap in January, the shelter also learned of a sealed box containing two small kittens.
“When they were abandoned, the temperature was -50 degrees Celsius,” Haukas said.
The two kittens survived the ordeal thanks to a farmer who found them and kept them warm in a heated barn. Arya and Sansa are currently up for adoption.
“We're not here to judge people. We understand that situations in life change, and you made a promise to protect your pet's life. If you do, you may lose your job, separate from your spouse, have to move, or your new home may not allow you to keep a pet.
“We totally understand that and we’re here to help.”
Haukers advised anyone looking to adopt a pet to notify the shelter as much as possible. This saves space, as shelters do not euthanize animals due to space.
The only condition is that the pet owner be honest. It is important to know what vaccinations have been given and if there are any known health issues that should be addressed.
Animals with behavioral issues such as aggression may not be accepted into shelters due to potential risks. If this occurs, please contact Gary Overs Kennelling & Obedience at 306-692-6011 to evaluate the situation. If they can help, Gary Overs has a lifetime of experience working with dogs and can offer private lessons.
The shelter also accepts many types of pets, except reptiles. To adopt a guinea pig, rabbit, ferret, or other pet, please fill out the “Cat” adoption form and note the type in the “Comments” section.
The Humane Society can be reached at 306-692-1517. The shelter is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and closed on Sundays and public holidays.
To obtain a waiver form, visit mjhs.ca/owner-admissions.
