Face of Nation International : Animal rescue organizations from coast to coast are reporting a surge in demand for rescue dogs and cats as Canadians look for furry companions to keep them company during self-isolation.
CTVNews.ca reached out to half a dozen rescue organizations from B.C. to Nova Scotia, and each group said applications to foster pets have spiked, with some fielding six times more requests than average. One group received as many applications in two days as they normally get in six months. “We have more foster applications than we have dogs right now, which happens almost never,” said Rory O’Neill, a dog behaviourist with Rocky Mountain Animal Rescue.
The reason behind the trend, the groups say, is simple. As COVID-19 shuts down workplaces and schools, many Canadians find themselves with enough time to welcome a new pet into their lives, either permanently or as a temporary foster.
Fostering was the original plan for Fiona Groves, 40, a fitness coach from Canmore, Alberta who recently adjusted her business to online sessions. She figured she had extra time for a foster dog. “The idea was that, when I went back to work, obviously my schedule would no longer be suitable for a dog,” she said.
Last Sunday, she picked up Maya, a high-energy greyhound mix, from Rocky Mountain Animal Rescue. There was only one staff member on the shift, and Groves said she was able to practice physical distancing during the exchange.
By Wednesday, Groves and her husband decided to keep Maya for good — a decision sometimes referred to as a “foster fail. Falling in love with Maya was a major factor, but Groves added that the pandemic has forced her to reconsider what she wants her life to look like once things go back to normal.
“There has been a shift in perspective. I realized that I can’t keep on working those really long days. So I’m still going to be going back to my face-to-face teaching and personal training, but I’m definitely going to make some adjustments so they’re no longer 15-hour days,” she said. “Now I’m going to make sure my schedule is also dog-friendly.” (Source: CTV News – Canada)
