MONTREAL – The week leading up to July 1 is full of exciting hustle and bustle for Montrealers who are moving into new apartments and homes.
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But it’s the most terrifying time for the Montreal SPCA.
Why? Because the number of pets that are abandoned skyrockets.
Shelter numbers
During the moving season, the number of animals sent to shelters triples from 600 to more than 1,600 a month.
“A significant portion of these animals are abandoned because their families are unable to find affordable rental housing that permits pets,” explained Alanna Devine, Director of Animal Advocacy at the Montreal SPCA.
“This disproportionately affects low-income families, who have more limited opportunities for housing.”
Bill 54
To improve the ‘legal situation’ of animals, Quebec Minister of Agriculture Pierre Paradis tabled Bill 54 at the beginning of June.
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But the SPCA points out the bill’s main flaw – it doesn’t prohibit landlords from using discriminatory “no-pet clauses” in their residential leases.
“‘No-pet clauses’ in residential leases are devastating, not only to the families who find themselves unable to keep their pets, but for the animals themselves,” said Devine.
Read Bill 54 below:
Keeping families together
That’s why the SPCA has decided to advocat at the political level to throw out the “no-pet clause” in many residential buildings.
The Keeping families together campaign includes a provincial petition asking Paradis to add the clause to his bill.
The petition was formally submitted to the National Assembly by Sainte-Marie–Saint-Jacques MNA Manon Massé on June 9th.
“Lack of affordable pet-friendly housing is a large contributor to pet abandonment in Quebec,” said Devine.
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So far, the petition has received overwhelming public support, with over 22,000 signatures.
The bottom line? “Don’t abandon your pets. They’re living creatures too,” said the SPCA.
rachel.lau@globalnews.ca
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