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More cats and kittens are being abandoned than in previous years and, according to the 麻豆传媒映画Orphan Kitten Rescue Association (VOKRA), it鈥檚 largely due to 麻豆传媒映画real estate.
VOKRA founder Maria Soroski says many economically disadvantaged British Columbians facing renovictions or demovictions cannot find affordable housing that will take pets.
鈥淓very other cat rescue in the province is also dealing with this problem,鈥� Soroski told the聽Courier. 鈥淲e鈥檙e seeing a huge increase in tame, unfixed cats being abandoned by their owners.鈥�
While it鈥檚 difficult to collect hard data, Soroskibelieves this situation affects primarily low-income families due to the high number of unfixed cats VOKRA has in its care.
Vancouverites moving houses will also likely experience a hike in rents, which leaves many unable to pay for proper pet care.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a crisis we鈥檙e going through. And we鈥檙e going to see a lot of animals 鈥� pets 鈥� having to be given up or abandoned because of this. It鈥檚 a horrible situation and I think it鈥檚 going to get worse,鈥� Soroski said, adding, 鈥淲e鈥檙e getting a high number of calls from people saying they鈥檝e either been renovicted or they cannot find affordable housing that takes pets.鈥�
This lack of pet-friendly accommodations stands in stark contrast to other province regulations that are more pet friendly. Ontario's Residential Tenancies Act, for example, forbids landlords from including a 鈥渘o pets鈥� clause in rental agreements.
Even without such a law, Soroski said there are ways people can help improve the situation for Vancouver鈥檚 kittens.
鈥淲hat people can do is always donate [or] volunteer for other cat rescues. They can be a foster parent.鈥�
Foster parenting is a big part of VOKRA鈥檚 work. Since the organization doesn鈥檛 have shelters, it relies on people willing and able to take in cats prior to their adoption.
鈥淚t costs the foster parent nothing. We provide all the food and the litter, all the medical care until the cats are ready to be adopted鈥� All the foster parent has to do is provide a temporary or longer-term home,鈥� Soroski said.
Costs for keeping a cat will normally be around $100 per month, which includes $60 a month on cat food, the cost of kitty litter and biannual visits to the vet. The cost of spaying and neutering cats is usually around a hundred dollars, but the BC SPCA 麻豆传媒映画Animal Hospital offers low income families free spaying and neutering services.
鈥淲e can鈥檛 do much about the housing crisis as a cat rescue,鈥� Soroski said. 鈥淏ut what we can and encourage the public to do is, if you know someone who has a cat that鈥檚 not spayed and neutered to encourage them to get it spayed and neutered 鈥� maybe drive them to the 麻豆传媒映画SPCA hospital if they meet the low income requirements. And if they notice any stray cats around 鈥� if they notice moms with kittens in their yard 鈥� then call us.鈥�
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