Animal Abandonment
Whether it's a pregnant dog dumped 20 km into the woods, or a box of puppies left on the shelter step in -20o temperatures, animal abandonment is against the law! It is beyond my comprehension how someone can do these things, but believe me, it does happen every day.
Just this past summer, a small dog weighing only 8 pounds, was turned into the animal shelter along with her two pups. The family who found her had been fishing 20 km along Logger School Road just outside Corner Brook when they heard a squealing in the bushes. They searched the woods and after a few minutes, came across this little dog lying on her side and giving birth to her pups. The family took her home and made her and her pups comfortable for the night. The next day they turned the dogs over to the SPCA.
The dog's coat was matted and she was very thin, but after 6 weeks in foster care, she had improved to the point where she and her pups could be put up for adoption. I'm glad to report that they all have new homes and are doing well, but I hate to think what would have happened if that family had not been in the woods that day!
In early February this year, one of our volunteers, Elaine Kendell, went to the shelter to do her regular Friday night shift. The night was a bitter cold one with a wind chill of -25o. When Elaine got to the shelter, she saw a box on the doorstep. inside the box were five little pups, approximately 6-7 weeks old. They were almost frozen. Elaine and her nephew Stephen (baby Stephen) took the pups into the shelter, scooped them up and held the pups inside their jackets for warmth. After what seemed like an eternity, the pups started to move and squirm around. Elaine and Stephen put them on the shelter floor and gave them some food - which they made short work of! After the pups were given a health check, they were put up for adoption.
The number of abandoned animals in the Corner Brook area has been on the increase this past year. Why do people do this to animals? We often hear people on fixed incomes say that they can't afford to have their pets spayed or neutered. When these pets have unwanted pups or kittens, they say they can't afford to have them put down.
We need to stop this problem of abandonment at its source. We are asking the City of Corner Brook, in conjunction with the SPCA, to implement incentive programs to encourage people to be responsible pet owners and have their pets spayed or neutered. These incentives would include the following:
Lower license fees for spayed or neutered animals.
A spay/neuter program for low income families.
Lower fines for spayed or neutered animals that stray
We all need to work together so that in the future, all animals will be wanted and all animals will have caring, responsible owners.