Pet owners flock to Montreal SPCA to adopt animals abandoned on moving day

Locals flocked to a Montreal animal shelter connected Sunday to connection a everlastingly location to dozens of animals who were abandoned during nan province’s yearly July 1 moving day.

Authorities astatine the Montreal branch of nan Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals had feared nan worst during nan Quebec moving day erstwhile galore animals are abandoned.

In nan 7 days pursuing July 1 — erstwhile galore leases expire successful nan state — much than 150 animals were abandoned, pinch a 4th of those owed to restrictions connected pets astatine nan owners’ caller dwelling.

In addition, nan shelter saw a 21 per cent hike successful group abandoning their pets successful nan first 4 months of 2024, successful portion owed to rising surviving costs.

“Unfortunately, it is nan dogs who are astir often affected,” said Laurence Massé, nan agency’s wide manager.

She said she’s delighted astatine nan turnout astatine an arena Sunday that saw group statement up hours up of clip to return advantage of waived take fees. Such events are held a fewer times a year.

The SPCA expected astir 700 group to be from each complete nan greater Montreal area, pinch astir 200 animals up for grabs including 100 cats and immoderate 40 dogs.

Jennifer Kwok-Choon and her 2 daughters, Madison and Tatiana, aged 17 and 11, came from Brossard, Que., connected Montreal’s South Shore.

“We arrived astatine 6:30 a.m.,” Kwok-Choon said up of nan 11 a.m. opening. “There were (two) group successful beforehand of us.”

She said she was wished to travel to nan SPCA to get a family feline — their first.

“I don’t for illustration pet stores. I don’t for illustration commercialization and I don’t spot breeders,” she said. “I emotion nan SPCA and I emotion what they do, and that they effort to prevention arsenic galore animals arsenic possible.”

Five hours later, nan 2 girls emerged pinch a cage clasp a feline nicknamed “Rain.”

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Gabrielle Bilodeau, 13, opted to forgo a fewer other hours of slumber to lineup astatine 7:30 a.m., coming retired 4 hours later pinch a yet unnamed two-month aged achromatic kitten. Gabrielle has a agelong database of monikers to take from connected her smartphone.

“I wanted to hold until I saw nan feline earlier choosing, possibly Pumpkin?” nan teen said pinch a wide smile. “It’s really my first feline of my own. I recovered my favorite,”

Despite nan beardown turnout, Massé said what’s needed is legislative alteration astatine nan provincial level that abolishes nary pet clauses, an rumor that affects nan full province.

“More than 400 animals are abandoned each twelvemonth conscionable astatine the Montreal SPCA because of moving,” she said, asking citizens to unit nan provincial government.

Last year, 4,586 animals recovered a caller location astatine the Montreal SPCA alone, according to nan organization’s website.