Four-year-old Rebel is looking for his forever home. Described by Toronto Humane Society staff as “a lively, bright boy with tons of energy to spare,” the ebony-coated Lab mix is just one of more than 500 animals currently in their care. He’s also ready to be adopted.
Last weekend, 1,526 animals found their permanent homes over National Adoption Weekend, hosted by PetSmart Charities. Shelters and care organizations brought animals into PetSmart locations with adoption agents on hand, ready to assist people to bring home a new furry friend. In Canada alone, more than 220,000 pets have been adopted out because of the program. Toronto Cat Rescue, OSPCA, Action Volunteers for Animals, Paws and Tails Cat Rescue and Animal Rescue Krew arell all involved in the program.
Although the program happens quarterly, the November leg has a particular message behind it: if you’re thinking of adopting an animal as a holiday gift, do it now and do it wisely.
“The holidays make our homes a little more hectic than usual,” says Carrie Trembinski, the charities’ Canadian PR manager. “If you adopt before the holidays, it may make the transition for your new pet and your family a little easier.”
Peruse any local list of adoptable animals and you’ll quickly see that many come with particular needs. Rebel, for instance, deals with insecurity issues that sometimes lead to aggression, requiring a safe and caring environment that will allow him the space to come into himself. This means that while the image of a puppy bursting forth from a wrapped gift under the Christmas tree is iconic, it doesn’t reflect the reality of many animals in need.
“Leading up the [the holidays] we see a little bit of an influx in traffic through the shelter,” says Tegan Buckingham, Toronto Humane Society’s manager of communications and events. “But we definitely don’t encourage the gift-giving of an animal. We want to make sure that if an animal is to go to a home, that everybody is aware, everybody knows what that means [and] everybody has done their research.”
Courtesy of PetSmart Charities
So why not go to a breeder or buy from a pet store if you know that bringing a pet home before the holidays is right for you? According to PETA, adopting from shelters and rescues is one of the best ways to combat puppy mills and other practices that place animals in danger.
The adopting movement– with celebrities like Kendall Jenner, Gigi Hadid, Jane Lynch, Rebecca Romijn, Josh duhamel and Kathy Griffin either throwing their support behind it or adopting their own pets– continues to build momentum. A simple search will see that hashtags like #AdoptDontShop, #NoKill and #RescueMe proliferate social media.
The need for adopting animals is also great. According to a 2014 study by the Canadian Federation of Humane Societies, agencies took in over 133,000 animals that needed homes. And because these animals often require medical attention– including deworming and spaying/neutering– the adoption fee you pay goes right back to the organization to cover these costs.
Even if you’re not in a position to save an animal this holiday season, there are other ways to help. The Toronto Humane Society accepts donations of blankets, cages and financial support. They also accept pet food to add to their food bank where owners facing financial hardships can access support to continue to care for their pets.
But if you are in a position to adopt a pet and do it properly, you might consider doing it early and knocking it off your holiday wish list.
“You’re not just welcoming in a new family member you’re saving an animal from a life in a shelter,” says Trembinski. “It’s probably the nicest gift you could give as we approach the holiday season.”
Breed-specific shelters in Ontario
If you’ve done your research and you know a particular breed of dog fits your family, home and lifestyle, you might be able to adopt one instead of going to a breeder. Here are some rescues close to the GTA you might consider:
- Big on Beagles
- Canadian Dachshund Rescue Ontario
- Pomeranian and Small Breed Rescue
- Greyhound Relocation and Adoption Canada
- Jack Russell Terrier Rescue Ontario
website@nowtoronto.com | @MilesJKenyon
