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8- The Oakville Beaver Weekend, Saturday February 10, 2007 www.oakvillebeaver.com Cats overloading Oakville Humane Society I t happens every year in the spring/summer, and if fortunate, the Oakville & District Humane Society is visited by owners anxious to be reconnected with their pet, or adopters looking for a pet 9% to call their own. This year is unusual because the shelter is as full as it was in the summer and there is no sign that the numbers of incoming cats are slowing down. The shelter is still over- Per annum. Interest paid monthly. 1 year term. Business Finance & Credit Corporation Contact us at 416-214-6440 Offering is being made to Ontario residents who qualify as "Accredited Investors" only. www.bfcc.ca Learn About Canada CITIZENSHIP TEST PREPARATION *No Charge 6 SATURDAY CLASSES 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. OAKVILLE ADULT LEARNING CENTRE 171 Speers Road Oakville FEBRUARY 10 - MARCH 31, 2007 REGISTER NOW: Adult Learning Centre LINC/ESL Office ­ [905] 849-7555 ext. 223 Thomas Merton Catholic Secondary School Your Link the Future & Make Your Home Comfort More Affordable LENNOX SALE CENTRAL AIR & FURNACE ® Up to $ 1000 * Instant loaded with felines looking for new homes and lost cats waiting for their owners to claim them. Adoptions and returns are significantly lower than expected. Each year over 2,000 cats find themselves at the society. Currently the six designated cat areas are all full. The overflow is so significant that hallways, offices, foster homes and even the bathrooms at the shelter are being used to house these animals. "We never compromise the care of the animals that find themselves at the shelter despite the volume in our care," said Johanne Golder, Executive Director at the Oakville & District Humane Society, "but we can be challenged by our limited space when so many animals, and cats in particular, are in need." How can you help? If your cat has gone missing, report it immediately to the Humane Society. Visit the shelter at least once a week to determine whether a member of the public or an Animal Protective Services Officer has picked up your cat as a stray. Call every couple of days to check in with the Lost and Found Department. Cats are required by Town of Oakville bylaw #2001-83 to wear identification and are not permitted to roam beyond their own property. With the proper identification (Humane Society registration tag, microchip implant) a cat's chances of being reconnected with its owner are significantly improved at a 3634303A PET OF THE WEEK: Jazz is a very nice cat with lots of personality. He would love to move in with you. For more information on other animals available for adoption visit www.oavkillehumane.ca. much faster rate. Without identification it is up to the owner to locate their cat. Once stray cats are returned to owners, space is freed up for cats that have been abandoned at the shelter. Cats come into the shelter for a variety of reasons, including those surrendered by their owner. "Most people know at least a month in advance that they will need to place their pet," said Golder. "What they may not know is that there is a waiting list at the Humane Society if they choose to surrender their pet. We simply cannot accommodate the volume of last minute requests that we receive." People placed on the waiting list are encouraged to find their own solution for re-housing their animal. Be it as a result of a move or finding out that a member of the household is allergic to the pet, the perception that the Humane Society can accommodate every animal may not be realistic. The Humane Society makes every effort to help all animals, but alternate solutions should be pursued first. Spaying and neutering cats is a responsible way of preventing unwanted pregnancies. In turn it will help to contribute to the reduced volume of abandoned mother cats and litters in the shelter or in the foster homes of Society volunteers. One final tip that will help the feline challenges faced by the Oakville & District Humane Society can be resolved with a trip to the veterinarian. Make sure that your cat is up to date with its vaccinations. A sick cat that finds itself at the shelter requires specialized care, which requires more staff and volunteer time. There is also the risk of sickness spreading amongst the other cats it is exposed to at the shelter. Make sure that you visit the veterinarian annually and keep your cat's vaccinations up to date. With so many finding themselves at the shelter, responsible pet ownership would significantly help with the feline overload. -- Submitted by the Oakville & District Humane Society Rebate 10 Years Parts & Labour Warranty * NO PAYMENT! Financing Available *Call for Details NO INTEREST! As Low As $ 3995 /month FOR 6 MONTHS AND O.A.C. *OAC P A AN BAY LINC LITERACY CLASSES Citizenship and Immigration Canada Citoyennete et Immigration Canada CUSTOM INGROUND POOLS "Your Pool ...Our Reputation" *FREE WATERFALL FEATURE NO DUCTS · NO PROBLEM Save $350 on ductless air conditioners W E S T WITH FIRST 15 POOLS BOOKED BY MAY 1, 2007 Limited Time Offer! NEW ....... 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