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

Local rescues are 乌鸦传媒渄rowning in cats乌鸦传媒� 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乌鸦传媒� organization does not have a shelter for cats 乌鸦传媒� FCM focuses on TNRs (trap, neuter/spay, release) of feral cats 乌鸦传媒� she works closely with local rescues to rehome friendly feral cats and kittens.

乌鸦传媒淐hilliwack rescues have seen a significant uptick in owner surrenders. Cats left on doorsteps of shelters. Dumped cats. Cats left behind,乌鸦传媒� 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.

乌鸦传媒淒on乌鸦传媒檛 contact rescues once you乌鸦传媒檙e already moved out or you have to be out in hours. This is unfair to rescues. Lack of planning on an owner乌鸦传媒檚 part should not constitute an emergency on rescuers乌鸦传媒� part.乌鸦传媒�

Chlo茅 MacBeth, branch manager with the Chilliwack SPCA, echoed Moschopedis乌鸦传媒� message and added there are other reasons cats are being abandoned.

乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 not just pet-friendly housing that乌鸦传媒檚 the challenge, though that certainly is the most cited reason for surrender,乌鸦传媒� 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乌鸦传媒檚 also the veterinary shortage issue which slows a cat乌鸦传媒檚 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 乌鸦传媒榬escues乌鸦传媒� (flippers) rushed to make money and meet the demand, MacBeth said.

乌鸦传媒淲e are currently seeing the heartbreaking fallout of these unethical practices,乌鸦传媒� she said.

The SPCA and the rescues have waitlists for pet owners surrendering their animals since vulnerable pets 乌鸦传媒� like cruelty investigation cases, street cats and animals that need urgent care 乌鸦传媒� 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.

乌鸦传媒淚f you know that you乌鸦传媒檙e going to need to move in the next month, call immediately to be put on a waitlist,乌鸦传媒� she said. 乌鸦传媒淚f you don乌鸦传媒檛 end up needing your spot on that waitlist, great! They can move on to the next animal on that list.乌鸦传媒�

Moschopedis listed other things pet owners should do:

乌鸦传媒� Attempt to rehome yourself. Do not offer your animals 乌鸦传媒渇ree to a good home.乌鸦传媒� 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.

乌鸦传媒� See if you have a family member who might be able to take your animals. Offer to continue to support them financially if you乌鸦传媒檙e able.

乌鸦传媒� 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乌鸦传媒檚 vet records.

乌鸦传媒� Update your pet乌鸦传媒檚 permanent ID (tattoo and/or microchip) once they乌鸦传媒檝e been rehomed. We often get animals whose ID is registered to a previous owner.

乌鸦传媒� Don乌鸦传媒檛 contact rescues once you乌鸦传媒檙e already moved out or you have to be out in hours. This is unfair to rescues. Lack of planning on an owner乌鸦传媒檚 part should not constitute an emergency on rescuers乌鸦传媒� 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乌鸦传媒檛 afford veterinary care.

乌鸦传媒淲e have had animals abandoned at our gates which is super frustrating since it forces our already-stretched resources beyond our capacity,乌鸦传媒� MacBeth said. 乌鸦传媒淭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.乌鸦传媒�