Image: L. Gomes / PML / Meka, a five-year-old Pitbull mix has been at the Abbotsford BC SPCA since January.

By Laurice Gomes

Abbotsford BC SPCA

No place to call home: Abbotsford BC SPCA calls for foster homes to help with ‘full’ shelter

Jul 15, 2022 | 6:00 AM

ABBOTSFORD — From the moment you enter the Abbotsford BC SPCA parking lot, you will most likely see how busy staff and volunteers really are. Between puppies arriving at the facility for care and giving affection to animals already there, branch manager Sarah Ringer-Vennard explained that the hunt for foster homes is now a poignant one.

Image: L. Gomes / PML / Six of the nine puppies, which were rescued two weeks ago in the Fraser Valley, arrived at the Abbotsford BC SPCA (one of them isn’t pictured).

“Dogs, cats, kittens—we are in full blown kitten season in Abbotsford,” Ringer-Vennard explained. “We’re getting litter after litter after litter of kittens that are coming in that need to go to foster homes.”

She said other scenarios for foster homes are for dogs and puppies for socialization and for cats if they’re recovering from medical issues.

“Or just to give us space in the shelter because our shelters are really full,” she said matter-of-factly.

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Ringer-Vennard said animals at the facility are taking much longer to get adopted out, adding strain to the situation.

Image: L. Gomes / PML / Branch manager Sarah Ringer-Vennard said Abbotsford is in kitten season.

“We are seeing an influx of animals come into care, and adoptions feel as though they’ve slowed down across the province,” she said. “So, we have a lot of animals—we’re getting a lot of strays, injured cats that we have to work with and have surgeries for.”

According to the branch manager, there is a heartbreaking trend of people wanting to surrender their pets, and she said while no one is admitting to giving up a pandemic animal, the writing is on the wall.

“The time frames line up,” she said. “The cost of veterinary care has gone up substantially, and a lot of people are struggling to afford veterinary care for their animals.”

Now looking to give these animals a second chance at life, staff and volunteers at the Abbotsford BC SPCA are working diligently to find foster care until a forever home comes along.

Ringer-Vennard said the “fur resident” who has been with the facility the longest is a five-year-old Pitbull mix named Meka, who was an emergency surrender. Staff explained that the dog’s former owner was unable to provide the medical attention that was needed.

Image: L. Gomes / PML / Meka is a five-year-old Pitbull mix.

While the branch manager approached the gate to greet Meka, the pup affectionately came forward to nuzzle her. The two playfully tossed a toy in the yard and played tug; with Meka visibly inconsolable when it was time for Ringer-Vennard to go, closing the gate behind her.

Image: L. Gomes / PML / Meka enjoying the company of branch manager Sarah Ringer-Vennard.

“Foster homes help us move animals into more of a home setting while we search for an adoptive home,” she said.

In the meantime, if people can’t provide foster care or adopt, the Abbotsford SPCA is always looking for donations to assist with making the lives of abandoned or surrendered animals a little more pleasant.

“Enrichment tools such as Kongs for dogs and cats, slow feeder puzzles,” Ringer-Vennard said. “We could always use vegetables because we have rabbits in our care, so carrots, lettuce, kale, parsley, spinach.”

Image: L. Gomes / PML / Some of the rabbits at the Abbotsford BC SPCA.

She further remarked that fostering can be a rewarding experience for people, providing an opportunity to have animals without the lifelong commitment and without the financial responsibility.

“We have a lot of fosters who have, over the years, fostered over a hundred kittens for us,” she said. “We wouldn’t be able to do what we do without our foster base.”

For anyone looking to foster an animal, please visit the Abbotsford BC SPCA website.

Image: L. Gomes / PML / Meka was an emergency surrender.