While Second Chance Animal Rescue Society (SCARS) Athabasca tends to experience an annual increase of animal intakes over the Christmas holidays, this year was particularly busy.
In December alone, Sylvia Christiansen, SCARS president and intake co-ordinator, said the rescue received 106 dogs and cats.
“That is on the high side,” she said. “We usually average about 80, so that’s more in December.”
Over the course of 2016, she said SCARS rescued 1,071 animals.
SCARS is a non-profit charity based in Edmonton, Athabasca and Westlock that rescues animals that are homeless or set for euthanasia and sets them up for adoption.
The main contributor to the high numbers in December was puppies, Christiansen said.
“Just before Christmas, the beginning of December, I think we had a week where we had 27 puppies in one week come in,” she said. “It was total puppy season at the beginning of December.”
She speculated the jump of puppies put up for adoption has to do with the turn to extreme cold weather near the end of the year.
“I think it’s only because we had such mild weather to begin with, and I hate to say it, but most puppies die if they’re left outside. That’s why we’re probably not having as many puppies now. Most of them died.”
Catrina Onyszchuk, SCARS kennel assistant, said receiving so many puppies is nice to a point, and lots of work.
“Lots of poop,” she joked. “Very time consuming, very rewarding, though.
“If you see where they come from compared to where they end up, it’s quite a difference. It’s amazing, actually.”
Another possible reason for the increased intake during the holidays, Christiansen said, is that people sometimes don’t deal with pet problems until faced with the situation of having friends and family over for Christmas.
“Anytime there’s a problem someone hasn’t dealt with before, now is the time to deal with it, get rid of it before the friends and family come,” she said.
When faced with such a large intake, Christiansen said SCARS manages “with great difficulty.” The rescue has a private Facebook page for foster homes, and SCARS will post what the need is and foster families open up their homes, as they’re able.
“People make room. If they take an extra puppy, they take an extra puppy,” she said. “Everybody kind of just steps up and does extra. It’s really nice.”
