Your cart is empty now.
Pets, best quarantine friends
- 09 December, 2020
- Abdelkader Doon
Horacio is not just the first name of a certain director of public health who may be at the top of the list of the most popular children's names in nine months. It is also the name of a pretty parakeet with bluish plumage that flies in the cage at Marianne Giguère, much to the delight of her children on forced leave.
"We've been working on the idea of adopting parakeets for a while. The children wanted to have a pet and my daughter is allergic to mammals," explained this councillor for Plateau-Mont-Royal who, during this period of confinement, became a foster family for Horacio and her four winged siblings, Pitchou, François-Parruche, Line and Pas-Line.
Cats, dogs, rabbits, hamsters, turtles... Alouettes. During this period of confinement, many families have expressed their desire to adopt or be temporarily foster families for animals, Le Devoir found. Since the beginning of March, the Montreal SPCA has received more than 1,100 applications from host families, four times more than last year at this time. "In the early days of the crisis, demand exploded," confirms Élise Desaulniers, Executive Director of the Montreal SPCA. Adoptions too: 445 applications have been completed online since March 22. "We could never have imagined two weeks ago that the highlight of our month was going to be declared an essential service by the government," continues the Director, who is pleased that it is considered as such, like some pet shops and emergency veterinary doctors.
Enhanced security
However, because it follows public health guidelines, the SPCA is idling. Some employees are teleworking, others are in quarantine. "You can process requests over the phone and the Internet, but it still takes people on the premises with the animals, so the process is a little slower," says Desaulniers, asking people to be patient. Adoptions and receptions are now only done by appointment and all the paperwork is done remotely. A day, about ten animals find a home.
"People are asked to stay in their cars until the time of the appointment. Inside, we respect the 2 meter instructions," insists the director. "Bacteria and viruses, we know that, and we don't want our animals to catch anything. We are used to adopting strict biosecurity protocols. »
Like any other surface, an animal's coat could potentially transmit a virus, some experts warned. Caution is therefore required, says Caroline Kilsdonk, President of the College of Veterinary Physicians. "Scientific authorities are expected to decide in the coming days on ways to decontaminate animals that may have come into contact with infected people," she said. "In the meantime, I think one thing that can be unanimous is that people who are considered more vulnerable should not adopt animals."
The director of the SPCA abounds. "This is not the right time for someone who is at risk, immunosuppressed or elderly," she admits. But she insists: "Our procedures are strict for employees. If you cough, have a fever, stay home. We absolutely do not want to risk someone being contaminated internally, it would be a disaster. »
Getting out of impotence
However, animal abandonment does not stop, pandemic or not. Yoko, a multicolored obese cat, is one of the few who can thank COVID-19. Because it is thanks to her that she found herself in the middle of a siblings of three cats and a kitten. "I did this to lend a hand. I love animals and I know it helps kennel employees," says Lauren Abrams, an SPCA volunteer who has become a foster family.
It is also to help and because they have the body at heart that the roommates Estelle and Juliette have welcomed temporary home — until the end of the confinement — the rabbits Coco and Lavender. "We felt helpless and thought, "What can we do besides stay at home? So, since we already had a hamster in our house that we see as our son, we thought: why not welcome other animals? Estelle Mottin said.
For others, caring for an animal can give people a sense of regaining control, says Élise Desaulniers. "It's like using your time to do good." In addition to breaking the isolation, pets can be good accomplices of exercises, says zootherapy worker and teacher Sabrina Lalancette. "We would stay on the couch, but they are in a good mood and full of energy, so we force ourselves to meet their needs. Basically, it's good for us. So yes to adoption, but it still has to be for the right reasons. "The crisis is here and it can help people to take care of an animal not at any cost," she adds. "An animal is still a contract."
Enhanced security
However, because it follows public health guidelines, the SPCA is idling. Some employees are teleworking, others are in quarantine. "You can process requests over the phone and the Internet, but it still takes people on the premises with the animals, so the process is a little slower," says Desaulniers, asking people to be patient. Adoptions and receptions are now only done by appointment and all the paperwork is done remotely. A day, about ten animals find a home.
"People are asked to stay in their cars until the time of the appointment. Inside, we respect the 2 meter instructions," insists the director. "Bacteria and viruses, we know that, and we don't want our animals to catch anything. We are used to adopting strict biosecurity protocols. »
Search
Custom Menu
Recent Post
FROM_JS
jsprice
jsprice
FROM_JS
FROM_JS
Add to cart
Added
Limit Products
Wait..
Translation missing: en.general.search.loading