The BC SPCA wants to find "forever homes" for hundreds of homeless animals this month in its Home for the Holidays pet adoption drive.
"What better gift to give a homeless animal than a caring family and a warm home?" asked Lorie Chortyk, general manager of community relations for the BC SPCA, although she strongly discouraged people from giving animals as gifts.
"We certainly wouldn't adopt out an animal as a gift," Chortyk said. "It's a very big decision, a financial commitment and a time commitment. You're taking on the responsibility for that animal for its lifetime."
But if people have carefully considered the decision to bring an animal into their families, Christmas can be an excellent time to adopt. Families are more likely to be off work or school during the holidays, Chortyk said, and will have more time to spend with one another and their new companion. She said she adopted one of her dogs during the holidays to take advantage of the extra at-home time.
The SPCA office in Port Coquitlam has participated in the campaign in previous years but because it's an adoption and education centre, it has a set capacity and doesn't experience the same crowding as shelters, Chortyk said.
Still, PoCo staff are hoping some of the 35 animals available for adoption can find good, permanent homes so they don't have to spend the holidays at the facility.
"Our staff do an outstanding job of nurturing the animals in our care but there is no substitute for being part of a permanent, loving family," Chortyk said. "Please come and meet some of the wonderful pets that we have available. Your love will change the life of a homeless animal forever."
You can search SPCA animals available for adoption by location, breed, age, gender and other characteristics at www.spca.bc.ca.
The Coquitlam Animal Shelter is also holding a Home for the Holidays pet campaign, aiming to find homes for 12 cats by Christmas day (though the shelter does not permit the adoption of pets as gifts for others). A link to the shelter's 60-odd cats, including photos, names and descriptions, is at www.facebook.com/cityofcoquitlam.
Shelter pets come spayed or neutered, with permanent identification, vaccinations, flea and worm treatments. Cats have also been tested for any diseases. The fee for cat adoption is $98 for one or $176 for two.
