The lack of pet-friendly rental housing is having an impact on cat rescue organizations in Chilliwack.

Local rescues are 含羞草研究社渄rowning in cats含羞草研究社� that have been surrendered by their owners, said Christy Moschopedis of FCM Community Cat Trappers. People are dropping them off at shelters or abandoning them.

Although Moschopedis含羞草研究社� organization does not have a shelter for cats 含羞草研究社� FCM focuses on TNRs (trap, neuter/spay, release) of feral cats 含羞草研究社� she works closely with local rescues to rehome friendly feral cats and kittens.

含羞草研究社淐hilliwack rescues have seen a significant uptick in owner surrenders. Cats left on doorsteps of shelters. Dumped cats. Cats left behind,含羞草研究社� she said.

Nearly 80 per cent of the cats in care at four cat rescues in Chilliwack are owner surrenders: ABC Cat Rescue (97 per cent), Chilliwack Animal Safe Haven (63 per cent), Chilliwack Community Animal Projects (100 per cent) and Forever Homes Cat Rescue (58 per cent).

Rescues want to help, but cat owners need to respect the organizations and the staff and volunteers who run them, Moschopedis said.

含羞草研究社淒on含羞草研究社檛 contact rescues once you含羞草研究社檙e already moved out or you have to be out in hours. This is unfair to rescues. Lack of planning on an owner含羞草研究社檚 part should not constitute an emergency on rescuers含羞草研究社� part.含羞草研究社�

Chlo茅 MacBeth, branch manager with the Chilliwack SPCA, echoed Moschopedis含羞草研究社� message and added there are other reasons cats are being abandoned.

含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 not just pet-friendly housing that含羞草研究社檚 the challenge, though that certainly is the most cited reason for surrender,含羞草研究社� MacBeth said.

Those who impulsively bought pets during the pandemic are facing the realities of finding housing, dealing with behavioural issues and the expense of pet ownership.

There含羞草研究社檚 also the veterinary shortage issue which slows a cat含羞草研究社檚 movement through rescues.

When COVID restrictions came into effect, there was a marked increase in pet adoptions and purchases. This fuelled irresponsible breeding such as backyard breeding, and pet mills. Unscrupulous pet import 含羞草研究社榬escues含羞草研究社� (flippers) rushed to make money and meet the demand, MacBeth said.

含羞草研究社淲e are currently seeing the heartbreaking fallout of these unethical practices,含羞草研究社� she said.

The SPCA and the rescues have waitlists for pet owners surrendering their animals since vulnerable pets 含羞草研究社� like cruelty investigation cases, street cats and animals that need urgent care 含羞草研究社� take priority. Roughly 90 percent of the animals on the SPCA waitlist are one to two years old.

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Moschopedis said pet owners need to give rescues a lot of lead time before surrendering their animals.

含羞草研究社淚f you know that you含羞草研究社檙e going to need to move in the next month, call immediately to be put on a waitlist,含羞草研究社� she said. 含羞草研究社淚f you don含羞草研究社檛 end up needing your spot on that waitlist, great! They can move on to the next animal on that list.含羞草研究社�

Moschopedis listed other things pet owners should do:

含羞草研究社� Attempt to rehome yourself. Do not offer your animals 含羞草研究社渇ree to a good home.含羞草研究社� Ask for a rehome fee. Find an adoption application online and ask people to fill it out. Be choosy about where your pet will go.

含羞草研究社� See if you have a family member who might be able to take your animals. Offer to continue to support them financially if you含羞草研究社檙e able.

含羞草研究社� Vet your animals. Have them to the vet for a check up. Make sure they are up to date medically. Provide the rescue with your animal含羞草研究社檚 vet records.

含羞草研究社� Update your pet含羞草研究社檚 permanent ID (tattoo and/or microchip) once they含羞草研究社檝e been rehomed. We often get animals whose ID is registered to a previous owner.

含羞草研究社� Don含羞草研究社檛 contact rescues once you含羞草研究社檙e already moved out or you have to be out in hours. This is unfair to rescues. Lack of planning on an owner含羞草研究社檚 part should not constitute an emergency on rescuers含羞草研究社� part.

MacBeth listed the current top six reasons why owners are surrendering their pets: they already have too many animals, housing related, unwanted litter, life change (hospitalization), no time, and can含羞草研究社檛 afford veterinary care.

含羞草研究社淲e have had animals abandoned at our gates which is super frustrating since it forces our already-stretched resources beyond our capacity,含羞草研究社� MacBeth said. 含羞草研究社淭his is an industry that already faces tremendous challenges of burnout and compassion fatigue. Managed intakes allow us to provide higher levels of care, to both animals and our team.含羞草研究社�