It seems everywhere you look in B.C., an animal rescue society is dealing with a record number of critters in their care.
“We are getting so busy, and getting the same amount of funding every year, so we’re hoping to get more funding, with the increase in animals, to pay for their care and treatment,” says Janelle Stephenson, Hospital Manager for the Wildlife Rescue Association.
The Burnaby non-profit has already cared for 5,474 animals this year, up from 4,500 in 2014. They’re currently nursing 37 animals from 14 different species back to health – and the costs can quickly add up.
“It is hundreds of dollars for each animal that comes in, with the facility, the medication, so if you it average it out, everything, the food, the heating, everything to maintain the building can cost quite a lot,” says Stephenson.
In Delta, the Orphaned Wildlife Rehabilitation Society has cared for over 600 birds this year, also a record. And in Langley, the Critter Care Wildlife Shelter is over capacity, with 32 cubs in its custody at the moment.
WATCH: A Langley wildlife shelter is having a record year, but no one is really celebrating. As Linda Aylesworth explains, the facility has too many orphaned bear cubs to look after.
There haven’t been any overarching theories as to why so many more animals are in care this year, but Stephenson suspects that social media means more people know who can help when they see an injured animal.
“People know about us. There could have been injured animals before that we weren’t able to respond to, that we now are,” she said.
But despite this year’s crunch, Stephenson says there’s no fears about the Wildlife Rescue Association’s ability to continue to help species of all stripes into 2016 and beyond.
“We love it. We would do it for the animals. We do it to help, and improve their quality of life so that when they’re injured they have somewhere to go.”
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