It’s the most wonderful time of the year – the Ontario SPCA and Humane Society’s iAdopt for the Holidays campaign! With many people enjoying time off and being home together as a family, now is the perfect time to welcome an animal into your life if you’ve been thinking of adopting.
The goal is to find loving homes for as many animals as possible during the holiday campaign, which runs until Dec. 24 at Ontario SPCA animal centres across the province.
In honour of this special event, we thought we would share what goes into finding loving homes for the animals in our care!
The road to adoption
Arrival
Animals come into the care of the Ontario SPCA’s 12 animal centres across the province for a variety of different reasons. Some are strays, others are re-homed by families who can no longer care for them. We reunite an average of 61 lost animals per month with their families, but sadly, many are never claimed. Animals also come to us through partners in animal welfare who need help finding them homes.
Examination
Our first priority is to examine each animal and treat any health concerns.
We also design an individual care plan to keep them happy and healthy while in our care. From vaccinations, to enrichment, to training, we want them to thrive.
Observation
Before an animal is ready to find a loving home, they undergo an observation period. This allows us to monitor their health, get to know them better, and gives them time to adjust to shelter life.
Spay/neuter and wellness
To help reduce animal overpopulation, every adopted animal is spayed or neutered in our clinic, which is also open to the public, before they are officially adopted. Our clinics perform an incredible 750 spay/neuter procedures each month to help reduce pet overpopulation!
Animals are also vaccinated, treated for any possible parasites, microchipped and they go home with food from Royal Canin® to help ensure a smooth transition into their new home.
Prepare for adoption
When an animal is ready to find a loving home, they move into the adoption area of our animal centres. Others, who need more TLC, are placed in a home with one of our more than 200 foster volunteers.
Meet ‘n’ greets
Once an animal is ready to find a home, their bio and photos are posted to our adoption site, ontariospca.ca/adopt for potential adopters to view. To help make lifetime matches, our adoption teams get to know each adopter’s lifestyle to help match them with a suitable furry friend.
Gotcha Day!
Once a match is made and all the necessary paperwork completed, we give each animal one last snuggle before they head out the door with their new family! It’s a bittersweet moment and we watch it play out for each of the more than 4,000 animals we find homes for, on average, each year!
iAdopt for the Holidays
This holiday season, our goal is to find loving homes for 500 animals across the province, including close to 60 long-term residents who are dreaming of spending the holidays with their new family. If you’ve been considering adoption, this may be the perfect time. With many people enjoying time at home together as a family over the holidays, you can help your new furry member adjust to their new life!
Make this season merry and bright for animals in need. Visit ontariospca.ca/adopt to view our animals available for adoption.
Not able to adopt? Consider shopping our Paws & Give online store for the perfect gift for the animal lover in your life – or an animal awaiting adoption. Visit ontariospca.ca to shop or donate today!
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