Which would you choose? A home or your pet?
The Housing Crisis and Pets in Alberta- Part 1
When you have a pet, they become your whole life and a family member.
Your photo library and social media are probably flooded with thousands of photos of pets, and you likely send photos of your pets to your friends and family (I know I do!).
But, with soaring inflation some pet guardians have had to make the choice between a home and their pet. Some people can no longer afford the ever-increasing costs of owning a pet as well as the difficulty of finding pet-friendly homes or rentals. A lack of affordable housing, breed and size-specific rules, plus hefty pet fees at rentals are also enormous barriers that have led to an unprecedented number of cats and dogs being surrendered by their owners.
Most animal shelters in Alberta and across Canada are overcapacity and in a state of crisis due to the enormous number of pets surrendered
In September 2022, CBC reported that around 100 animals per year as their guardians could not find housing that would accept them. Sadly, in August 2023, the Calgary Humane Society already passed that number, with 113 people who surrendered their pets as they couldn’t find pet-friendly housing.
Almost daily, animal shelters like Animal Rescue Foundation (Alberta) are hearing from people who can no longer afford to keep their pets or who are at risk of homelessness as they can’t find affordable crisis. While other shelters have had to stop accepting surrenders due to capacity restraints.
Many people are now homeless, living in their cars or trucks, or ending up in shelters due to the lack of or no access to pet-friendly housing. They’re taking desperate measures to keep and care for their pets- their family members.
So, what can you do?
Talk or write to your city councilor, MLA, or MP about how affordable housing needs to include pets
Volunteer at your local animal shelter
Donate to low-cost or free sterilization (spay and neuter) clinics or drives such as by Canadian Animal Task Force or Community Cats Edmonton
Donate pet food to Parachute for Pets
In our future blogs on this housing crisis and pets in Alberta, we will discuss in-depth how this crisis affects the most vulnerable in our society, how shelters are overcapacity, and highlight animal shelters or non-profits doing great work to help this crisis.
