Saskatoon SPCA at full capacity

There is no more room at the shelter.

The Saskatoon SPCA doesn’t have any more space for owner surrenders. There aren’t enough kennels to allow the public to bring pets in until adoptions are finalized.

“We actually have 159 animals physically located at the shelter right now, and then we have another 58 animals in foster care,” said Jemma Omidian, manager of animal care and community engagement at the SPCA.

There are currently 57 animals up for adoption at the shelter.

Omidian said it’s not often they have that many animals to care for.

“Typically, around this time of year, we do see a little bit of a decline in the population. Unfortunately, this year with the really mild fall that we’ve been having, we have not seen that trend at all,” she said.

Capacity has been consistently high for both cats and dogs, she added.

The Saskatoon SPCA has a contract with the City of Saskatoon’s animal control program, meaning they have to take in all stray animals found within the city limits, which makes up about 95 per cent of the shelter’s animal intake.

If someone has an animal they wish to surrender, Omidian said there is a waiting list for members of the public, but there are other options such as finding a new permanent home for the pet.

One of the animals up for adoption at the Saskatoon SPCA. (Steve Seto/650 CKOM)

“Always make sure you’re vetting potential adopters as well. You can give us a call, and we can give you some tips on that,” Omidian said. “Alternatively, you can contact other rescues or shelters.”

Fewer and fewer people are coming in to claim pets, she added.

“What we have seen is a decrease in redemptions. So animals that get out of the house, get lost, and then they show up at the shelter. We’ve seen a decrease in people coming to get their animals back,” Omidian said.

She said it’s important for owners to ensure their pets are microchipped with updated information, especially with Halloween just over a week away. The holiday gives animals a good opportunity to escape, with front doors constantly being opened.

A microchip will allow a shelter to get in touch with owners of lost pets sooner, Omidian said. If a pet is lost, she said owners should file reports with both the SPCA and animal control, so they can be notified if the pet is found. An animal has to be unclaimed for five days before being put up for adoption.

Omidian said spaying and neutering is also important, as stray animals can quickly mate and cause a population issue.

She said the SPCA will not put an animal up for adoption without it being spayed or neutered, which can lead to animals staying in the shelter’s care for longer periods. Omidian said there’s a backlog for spaying and neutering procedures.

Omidian said assistance from the community is extremely helpful in times like this.

One of the animals up for adoption at the Saskatoon SPCA. (Steve Seto/650 CKOM)

“When we do reach a really critical capacity, we rely on the public to help us out. So what we do is we send a bunch of animals to foster care just to create the space so we can have a few open kennels at the shelter,” she said.

If someone does find a lost animal and is able to hold onto it for a few days before bringing it to the SPCA, the shelter is asking them to do so in order to help alleviate the pressure.

Holiday pets

With the temperature dropping and the holiday season around the corner, some may think of giving a pet as a gift.

Omidian says it’s a great idea, but everyone has to be aware of the plan and on board with it.

“We don’t want it to be a surprise gift,” she said.

She recommended wrapping a box containing a few photos of some animals available for adoption, and then booking an appointment to pick one out.

“It ensures that there is that connection or bond for the new owner and the pet,” Omidian said.

Pandemic pets

During the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, many people who were at home most of the time took on ownership of a new pet.

Omidian said there was some concern that a lot of them would be returned when people returned to their regular routines. Thankfully, she said, the SPCA has not seen a lot of returns of these pandemic pets.