Farm raises concern about pet abandonment during coronavirus pandemic

The Urgent Animal Care Fund has been created to help animals, including families caring for pets during these times

Yorkregion.com
May 26, 2020
Aileen Zangouei and Kim Zarzour

Are people abandoning their pets due to fear of catching the coronavirus?

Or are they abandoning them because of finances during these times?

That’s what one York Region resident wondered last month when she found a cat on the farm property she rents.

“It was not your average everyday cat by any means,” said the resident, who described it as a Persian breed.

But the Ontario SPCA told yorkregion.com that it has not seen an increase in people requesting to surrender their animals.

“Nor are we aware of animals being abandoned as a result of COVID-19,” a representative from the OSCPA stated in an email.

“I think with the COVID-19 and finances, someone panicked and dropped the cat,” the source said, adding that whoever had abandoned the cat had also left a bag of pet food.

“On Kijiji it probably would have been a $600 to $800 purchase,” the source said.

The resident said had they not found the cat, “it would have died either by coyotes or starved to death.”

So far, municipalities have not found an increase of abandoned pets, but steps are being taken to be prepared. In Newmarket, Aurora and Georgina, animal-vehicles will be stocked with bags of cat and dog food in case this does occur.

The municipalities also advised that in the event someone needs to surrender their pet, they can contact their local animal services or the OSPCA.

In response to the circumstances around COVID-19, the OSPCA and Humane Society have set up an Urgent Animal Care Fund to help animal organizations in Ontario continue to care for animals and support pet owners during this time.

For more information about the fund, visit urgentanimalcarefund.ca.