This Christmas is bright for Canada's companion animals
OTTAWA, Dec. 14, 2016 /CNW/ - Thanks to the hard work of humane societies and SPCAs across Canada, we have a lot to celebrate this holiday season. The Canadian Federation of Humane Societies (CFHS) has just released our annual Animal Shelter Statistics Report, and it is full of great news for Canada's companion animals.
"Adoption is up, euthanasia is down – and we're seeing a drop in the number of animals needing shelter and care from these organizations," says Barbara Cartwright, CEO of CFHS. "As a society, Canada still has a long way to go in terms of valuing and caring for animals, but we're definitely moving in the right direction."
The annual CFHS shelter statistics report has measured the state of companion animal health and welfare in Canada since 1993. This year, we have significant improvements to report, including:
- For five years in a row, both cat and dog intake has been steadily decreasing. One third fewer dogs and cats were taken in by humane societies and SPCAs in 2015 compared to 2011.
- Cat adoption rates are higher than they've ever been. In 2015, the cat adoption rate was more than double the rate in 1993, when we first began tracking Canadian shelter statistics.
- The number of animals being taken in by Canadian shelters is dropping. For five years in a row, both cat and dog intake has steadily decreased.
- A whopping 58,000 companion animals were spayed or neutered by Canadian animal shelters in 2015, which represents an $8.7 million financial commitment by humane societies and SPCAs.
- We're seeing lower euthanasia rates for cats than ever before – in 2015, 33% fewer cats were euthanized than in 2014.
- For the third consecutive year, we're seeing cat adoption rates surpass dog adoption rates.
- The proportion of stray cats being taken in by Canadian animal shelters is on the decline. They accounted for 48% of overall cat intake in 2015, down from 53% in 2014 and 60% in 2013.
- 25% of cats and 33% of dogs arrived at Canadian shelters already spayed or neutered, compared to 17% of cats and 23% of dogs in 2014.
- Only 2% of dogs and 5% of cats remained in the shelter instead of being adopted in 2015. This rate is at the lowest recorded since 1993.
CFHS is confident that, if we continue the trajectory of improved animal guardianship and keep investing in spay/neuter programs, we will gradually eliminate pet overpopulation in Canada.
SOURCE Canadian Federation of Humane Societies (CFHS)
For media interviews or more information, contact: Luna Allison, Communications and Marketing Manager, Canadian Federation of Humane Societies, [email protected], 613-224-8072 ext. 12
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