Dog rescues overloaded as people surrender pandemic pups

The Kingston Humane Society says they havenever seen as many dogs in care as they have this past month a trend they're attributing to a return to pre-pandemic life for the dogs' owners.

Gord Hunter, the non-profit's executive director, said last week they had 62 dogs at the shelter and more than 100 in foster care.

Not all the dogs being returned are puppies. Some are rescues, and Hunter saidthere arepotentially behavioural or medical issues with rescue dogs that can make them more of a commitment.

"We're seeing that once people are back into their pre-pandemic lifestyle, they haven't been able to or willing to maintain that commitment," Hunter told CBC Radio's All In A Day.

There hasalso been an increase in veterinary clinics calling the humane society because some owners can't pay for the care theirdogs need.

"That animal, unfortunately, gets stranded just because the people didn't consider or were unable to cover the veterinary bill," Hunter said.

Aside from clinics, the shelter alsogets referrals from the Provincial Animal Welfare Services team.

Right now, 24 of the dogs at the shelter are being held while the teaminvestigates two cases of animal abuse. While Hunter saidtheseinvestigations are common, he's never seen so many dogs needing careforjust two investigations.

Puppy mills, 'backyard breeders' saw opportunity

Mike Gatta, the adoption director for Ottawa Dog Rescue, saidKingston's experience alignswith what he's been seeing.

With the huge demand for pets during the pandemic, Gatta saidscammers and puppy mills saw an opportunity and have become more prevalent.

"Backyard breeders, puppy mills, they don't care who buys the dog so long as they get their $3,000 for their little cute mixed breed that they've bred with the neighbour's dog," he said.

Registered breeders perform blood tests, monitor for congenital defects, breed for behaviour traits and often have a clause in purchase contracts that they'll takedogs back if anything goes wrong, Gatta said.

But without that regulation, Gatta saidhe's seen dogs cost their newowners thousandsof dollars in vet billsincluding one instancewhere someonethought they were buying a Chihuahua and instead ended up with an Italian greyhound that had been kept in a box to stunt its growth.

Owners' lives changed by pandemic upheaval

Ottawa Dog Rescue has also been getting more calls thaneverto take surrenders. It doesn't have shelter, but co-ordinates about 40 to 60 foster placements.

Gatta saidthere's been anincrease in people finding themselves unable to care for active dogs such asGerman Shepherds and Huskies.

"Either they were working from home and now they're gone, or they were living in a house and now they're in an apartment. Or maybe they were married and now they no longer are. Those are all valid reasons for having to give up a dog," Gatta said.

For others returning to work and activities outside the home, they're noticing their pets havenot been properly trained or socialized due to pandemic restrictions.

"Dogs have separation anxiety, have leash reactivity, reactivity to other dogs, lack of socialization, all those types of issues," Gatta said.

For owners hoping to smooth the transition, Gatta saidthe rescueregularly trainsdogs that are eight or nine years old.

"It's never too late for training," Gatta said. "It's a lot more about training the people thantraining the dog, anyway."