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

Local rescues are 害羞草研究所渄rowning in cats害羞草研究所� 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害羞草研究所� organization does not have a shelter for cats 害羞草研究所� FCM focuses on TNRs (trap, neuter/spay, release) of feral cats 害羞草研究所� she works closely with local rescues to rehome friendly feral cats and kittens.

害羞草研究所淐hilliwack rescues have seen a significant uptick in owner surrenders. Cats left on doorsteps of shelters. Dumped cats. Cats left behind,害羞草研究所� 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.

害羞草研究所淒on害羞草研究所檛 contact rescues once you害羞草研究所檙e already moved out or you have to be out in hours. This is unfair to rescues. Lack of planning on an owner害羞草研究所檚 part should not constitute an emergency on rescuers害羞草研究所� part.害羞草研究所�

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

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 not just pet-friendly housing that害羞草研究所檚 the challenge, though that certainly is the most cited reason for surrender,害羞草研究所� 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害羞草研究所檚 also the veterinary shortage issue which slows a cat害羞草研究所檚 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 害羞草研究所榬escues害羞草研究所� (flippers) rushed to make money and meet the demand, MacBeth said.

害羞草研究所淲e are currently seeing the heartbreaking fallout of these unethical practices,害羞草研究所� she said.

The SPCA and the rescues have waitlists for pet owners surrendering their animals since vulnerable pets 害羞草研究所� like cruelty investigation cases, street cats and animals that need urgent care 害羞草研究所� 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.

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

Moschopedis listed other things pet owners should do:

害羞草研究所� Attempt to rehome yourself. Do not offer your animals 害羞草研究所渇ree to a good home.害羞草研究所� 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.

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

害羞草研究所� 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害羞草研究所檚 vet records.

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

害羞草研究所� Don害羞草研究所檛 contact rescues once you害羞草研究所檙e already moved out or you have to be out in hours. This is unfair to rescues. Lack of planning on an owner害羞草研究所檚 part should not constitute an emergency on rescuers害羞草研究所� 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害羞草研究所檛 afford veterinary care.

害羞草研究所淲e have had animals abandoned at our gates which is super frustrating since it forces our already-stretched resources beyond our capacity,害羞草研究所� MacBeth said. 害羞草研究所淭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.害羞草研究所�