SPCA takes animals from overwhelmed rescue facility
CALGARY — Volunteers with an animal rescue east of Calgary are improving their drop-off policies after they became overwhelmed with a large number of animals, which were seized by the Alberta SPCA.
Christine Campbell, chair with Oops-a-Dazy animal rescue and sanctuary, said her organization doesn’t have a shelter to take in unwanted animals or strays but places them in various foster homes before they are adopted out.
After Oops-a-Dazy stopped accepting new animals, people continued dumping cats and dogs at one foster home in Wheatland County, leaving them with an overwhelmingly large number of animals, she said.
“We are under-resourced. When animals are dropped off without warning and we don’t have an opportunity to refer to another organization or say no, then the animals are there and we’re left scrambling, playing catchup,” Campbell said.
“We put out the call for more foster homes. Unfortunately, that didn’t come through fast enough.”
Oops-a-Dazy, run entirely by volunteers, was in the midst of addressing the situation — doing upgrades, reassessing procedures and policies, and finding ways to improve current facilities — when the Alberta SPCA took 45 dogs and 20 cats from the seven hectare farm property, she said.
Campbell said the animals were “well cared for” and had food, access to water, shelter, and veterinary care.
Alberta SPCA spokesman Roland Lines said the SPCA received a call on May 26 from a member of the public who raised concerns about the facility, though he declined to reveal what the witness saw.
“We had attended the property with a veterinarian. The observations of our officer were confirmed by the veterinarian that the animals were in distress,” he said.
The SPCA obtained a search warrant and returned to the property on June 10, removing the 45 dogs and 20 cats.
Lines said the owner has 10 days from the seizure to attempt to reclaim the animals, and would be required to pay for veterinary care and boarding in relation to holding the animals.
No charges have been laid. Campbell said the organization will work hard to meet the requirements to get the animals back.