EDMONTON – For the first time in the history of the organization, the Edmonton Humane Society (EHS) temporarily closed its doors Wednesday to people who want to surrender their pets into the shelter’s care.
“At this point in time, we’re telling people who are walking in the doors that we do not have the capacity to care for their pets,” says CEO Stephanie McDonald. “The animals already in our care have stretched us to our limit. We do not wish to provide sub-standard care for any animal, which is exactly what we risk if we take on the responsibility of these pets which do already have homes.”
The organization says it’s used to seeing a large spike in the number of cats and kittens at this time of year, but it’s very unusual to have to refuse admissions of owner-surrendered dogs, small animals like rabbits, and exotic animals like lizards and birds.
In fact, this is the first time in EHS’s 106-year history that it’s had to close its doors to all species at once.
In a news release, the EHS explains its focus has been, and will remain, to “provide care to homeless and abused companion animals.”
If Edmonton pet owners feel they cannot care for their pets, the EHS will take their name and phone number and will notify the owner once the temporary hold on owner-surrenders has been lifted.
The EHS does not euthanize animals because of time or space constraints, so the shelter won’t be able to lift the suspension until animals are adopted and more space is made available.
The organization is asking anyone who has been thinking about adopting an animal to consider doing so at this time.
More information is available at www.edmontonhumanesociety.com.
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