(EMAILWIRE.COM, December 06, 2012 ) Victoria, Australia -- More animals are being abandoned in Calgary, Alberta these days. A rising number of pet owners are choosing to leave their animals behind when they are unable to find animal-friendly rental accommodations.
The Calgary Humane Society says that so far in 2012, almost half of the cases of animals that have been seized or removed have been due to being abandoned by their human masters.
According to Brad Nichols, the Humane Society's Protection and Investigations Department chief, Calgary's rental market has a lot to do with the increased number of abandonment calls the organization has received.
In some cases, when rental tenants are unable to secure pet-friendly housing, Nichols said. He continued to explain that owners choose to leave their animals behind, expecting that the humane society or some other agency will pick them up and take care of them.
"People are quite transient with the rental market in Calgary," Nichols added.
In recent cases, four kittens were found abandoned in a sealed duffel bag that was dropped off at a local Salvation Army clothing donation box. A tenant renting a duplex in Southwood in the southwest part of Calgary abandoned his lease, leaving behind more than 30 feral cats, many in poor condition.
The humane society is looking for the individuals involved in both cases.
So far in 2012, 340 animals have been seized as a part of the nearly 1,100 investigations conducted by the agency. Of those, more than 150 abandonment cases have been investigated.
In comparison, during 2011, the humane society removed 435 animals, which included 120 chickens taken from a single location. Of those, around 160 animals had been abandoned.
In 2010, the number of animals seized was 228, of which 164 were abandoned.
Unfortunately, in many of these cases, the animals have subject to abuse or medical neglect, another area that is on the rise in Calgary. Through October of this year, more than 130 neglect cases have been investigated. During all of 2011, 139 neglect cases were reviewed by the humane society. In 2010, the number was 115.
"Since 2008, the proportion of those cases compared to others continues to rise," Nichols said. "It's either more people reporting or more people not dealing with the reality of a sick or injured animal."
Animal advocacy group DAISY Foundation has been dealing with what a spokeswoman said is the organization's "worst year ever" in terms of abandoned or seized animals. Currently, their foster homes are nearly full.
"We've never been so overwhelmed," spokeswoman Heather Anderson said. "I think it's that, economically, we're a mess."
With winter approaching, Nichols said that the humane society expects an increase in the number of animal seizures because of shelter issues and animals being left outside in the cold.'
"Last year, we did OK," he said. "But we get ready for it around this time of year."
The humane society says that pet owners they can surrender their animals to them if they cannot afford to pay for their animals' medical needs or provide basic care.
"It's best to do it before the animals are suffering," Nicholls said.
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