The Montreal SPCA is having its last no-fee adoption event of the year on Monday.
The SPCA says the impact of this year’s animal surrenders is still being felt at the shelter, which took in more than 6,200 animals during the first six months of 2024.
“There seems to be no end to this crisis, for the simple reason that its causes have still not been resolved,” said Laurence Massé, executive director of the Montreal SPCA.
“It is still hard to find a place to rent if you live with an animal, especially a dog, and access to veterinary care is difficult for the families most affected by the rising cost of living.”
Monday’s no-fee adoption day will include more than 70 cats, 18 dogs, nine rabbits, over 20 small animals and around 15 birds looking for a home.
For those worried that waiving the adoption fees may attract individuals who may not be best suited to adopt an animal, the SPCA says recent studies have proven those beliefs wrong.
The adoption procedures remain the same on no-fee adoption day, the animal group says, including meeting with an adoption counsellor to ensure those interested in adopting meet the requirements.
According to the Association des médecins vétérinaires du Québec (AMVQ), the average annual cost of caring for a cat is $2,400. For a dog, it ranges from $2,700 to $3,400; and for a rabbit, it’s an average of $1,500.