Thousands of Animals Are at a Severe Risk of Being Euthanized or Being Killed in Less than Humane Ways!
This news just breaks my heart.
1st Factor Affecting The Plight of Rescue Animals:
I was quite upset yesterday as the deadline passed for Canada’s ban importing any animals for adoption from overseas. Did any of you know that as of yesterday, September 28, 2022 Canada put a ban on importing any rescue dogs from over 100 countries?
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) that will ban the import of dogs from more than 100 countries. The agency will prohibit the entry of commercial dogs from countries it considers at high-risk for canine rabies beginning on Sept. 28. The agency says the ban is necessary to reduce the risk of dog rabies entering Canada, and defines “commercial dogs” as dogs for resale, adoption, fostering, breeding, show or exhibition, research and other purposes.
I was walking my dog today and came across a neighbour who was walking this little guy!
He was rescued from Kuwait on Monday, just days before the ban on importing pets from other countries. I found it to be very sad despite the concerns of allowing dogs from overseas into Canada. The link below is from the CBC News.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/london/street-dogs-ban-canada-1.6595936
I completely understand not wanting dogs to bring in a rabies strain not found in Canada and a strain that could cause health concerns but is this the only answer?
Could there not be more stringent testing measures applied to reputable rescue shelters already importing pets (mainly dogs) to Canada? I can’t believe a total ban being the only viable solution. Many dogs will no longer be saved from the meat trades. Dogs like mine, forced to live on the streets, will most likely die there. I am very saddened by this news. For me, the only thing to do is write to my Member of Parliament to ask if other solutions can be found.
2nd Factor Affecting The Plight of Rescue Animals:
There is no question that the Covid pandemic brought on a onslaught of people wanting a dog (or other pet). The timing was PERFECT! We were locked in our homes and having a pet became companionship and a way for many to change their home environment for all to bring in the love of a pet.
Rescue agencies had NO DOGS (or other pets) to adopt out. Puppies from breeders and those from puppy mills etc. became way overpriced and/or unavailable. No one could find a pet! I know this first hand because I searched for months and jumped through many hoops to adopt my Jessy! There were warning in the media about scams involving advertised dogs for sale!
I rescued Jessy on September 18, 2020. She was plucked from the streets of Cairo, Egypt. A local and VERY REPUTABLE agency brought her over here. She had veterinarian records and COVID test results to ensure her safe transport here.
Imagine this little dog living on the streets of a major city? She had to have fought EVERY day to stay alive. She was not only at risk of attacks by other dogs but by people as well. She had to fight them off from trying to kill her. I often walk her in the rain wondering where she went on those night? Where did she find food and water? How long would she have survived on the streets before being killed by other dogs or humans?
My point here is that because no rescue dogs were available here in Canada, I HAD to search overseas!
If you have rescued a pet before, you must know the severity of animal rescue agencies application forms! They are BRUTALLY INTENSE but justifiably so. People would have been asked in detail about what would happen if they could no longer care for the animal. Stating that once you were ordered back to work, you would give up the animal WAS NOT A VIABLE ANSWER to that question!
BUT….
Fast forward 2 years and our once empty local dog (and other pet) shelters are overrun by pets returned after folks returned to work after the pandemic. People did exactly what they promised not to do. The animals became re-traumatized because they were guilty of loving their owners! This is an interesting news clip from Global News below.
https://globalnews.ca/news/9011043/pandemic-pets-canada-shelters-fix/amp/
When adopting a pet from a rescue organization, these organizations want to make certain that the pets are going to their forever home and not being sold or re-adopted. They also want to safe guard these animals do not end up back in a shelter. When many people had to return to the office after the pandemic subsided, shelters became over burdened with animals adopted out a year earlier. It is very sad. We now have the situation of overcrowded shelters and no one wanting them.
THIS IS JUST MY OWN PERSONAL AND PLEA. PLEASE CONSIDER A RESCUE DOG!
This is Dazzle. She was rescued Greyhound. Her rescue from from a racetrack in the USA. She was in a foster home with the most loving family who knew I would love her. I adored Dazzle and she spent multiple summers in Cape Cod with me!
This Jessy 2 years after coming to me from Cairo, Egypt. She has captured the hearts of many but mostly mine! she has her own section of this blog!
This is Buddy. He was 10 years old when I rescued him. Older dogs often do not get rescued because of their age. I was a school principal when I had him. I posted a Buddy Bulletin Board outside my office. He was photographed and reinforced anti bullying strategies and safe play. It was an odd idea but soon kids would rush on Mondays to see Buddy’s latest tips. KIDS loved him. So did I!
I know that many people fear that a rescue is too much work. They don’t want a damaged dog or one that is difficult to train. I do not know one dog owner who has purchased a puppy and said training a puppy was easy. Nor have they ever said that puppies have no issues.
Pet training is work. It takes time, patience, understanding, and knowing that consistent repetitive training is critically important to your dog.
I have had Jessy for two years and none of it has been easy. I CANNOT stress enough that the love she gives me, the happiness she brings in to my home, and the joy that she brings into my heart is well worth that work.
Many rescue agencies also look for foster families. They often pay for medical expenses etc. while you are fostering a dog. Fostering simply means providing a home and training until a permanent home can be found.
This can be a very easy alternative to outright adoption with the possibility of adopting the actual dog that you are fostering.
I will end my personal plea here and ask that we all consider rescues and hopefully consider writing your M.P. to ask about other solutions rather than an outright ban of rescues from overseas!
KEEP WALKING!
