The Moncton SPCA says it is being overrun with cats as the cold weather sets in.
“We are running at capacity with cats. Just last week we had 44 come in, in one afternoon, so that put us at a bit of an overload for a while,” says Nanette Pearl, director of animal welfare at the Moncton SPCA.
The organization is an open admission shelter, which means it won’t turn an animal away. It has a capacity of 200 and accepts more than cats and dogs.
“We just got a whole bunch of gerbils in one shot yesterday, 17 of them,” says Pearl. “And then the rabbits are also coming in as well.”
Between medical needs, food, and cat litter, the winter months can be tough on the SPCA’s budget.
“We go through about 300 pounds of cat litter a day, so while that’s not something that everybody would think of, it is a rather large expense -- about $2,000 a month,” says Pearl.
While the SPCA hopes all the animals find good homes, the organization is urging people to make a few considerations before giving one away as a Christmas gift.
“We encourage families to make the decision, if you’re thinking about adopting, to make sure everybody in the family is involved because, while a parent may choose to get a pet for a child, they have to be prepared to care for that animal, because ultimately, the daily care is going to fall onto the parent,” says Pearl.
And if the care becomes too much, Pearl says the animal could end up back on the street, or at the SPCA.
With files from CTV Atlantic's Jonathan MacInnis
