Animal Abandonment Awareness

A number of animals have been abandoned recently – some in very dangerous places.

Economic conditions can make caring for animals hard. RAPS can help.

Three cats were found abandoned on August 6th. Video surveillance showed an individual arriving, dropping off a crate and departing.

Abandoning animals is a dangerous thing to do. In this case, they were left inside a building. In other cases, they have been left in outdoor locations, leaving them potentially vulnerable to predators.

Pets are a lifelong commitment. Sometimes, though, personal or family circumstances change and it is simply impossible to continue caring for the animals. In these cases, we urge people to surrender animals properly. It is important for the health and welfare of the animals that we have as much information as possible about their health records, habits, personalities and other details so that we can provide them the best options possible.

In the latest instance, these three cats appear healthy. They are all spayed/neutered and are about four years old. We’ve named them Dumpling, Potsticker and Purrogi and we expect they will soon be placed in loving forever homes. They are lucky.

So is Goose, an orange-and-white tabby about a year old, who was dumped outside a RAPS facility by a van with California license plates. He proved to be incredibly affectionate and clearly comfortable with people. His fate could have been less fortunate. Happily for Goose, he was quickly adopted and is living a safe, happy life in a loving home.

Likewise Inez and Ivan, two black kitties, maybe eight weeks old, who were found by a Good Samaritan on the Garden City lands. They must have been abandoned because they seemed quite familiar with humans – in fact, they came running out of the bush excited to see the people who rescued them! Their “curly” ears suggest they may be a mix of American Curl and domestic short hair. The young cats were fostered before finding loving homes! They were extremely lucky to have been found by people instead of coyotes or birds of prey.

We understand that times are difficult for many people. This is why RAPS has a range of programs so that people do not have to make sad – and potentially disastrous – choices.

British Columbia is one of the world’s most expensive places to live. An unexpected vet bill or a layoff notice can upend a family’s budget. Even without an extraordinary crisis, inflation and rising interest rates make budgeting a challenge. The RAPS Pet Food Bank is here to help bridge these gaps. If you need some pet food, supplies or other help, contact us 604-275-2036 or email info@rapsbc.com.
Veterinary care can be extraordinarily expensive. RAPS Animal Hospital has B.C.’s only no-interest veterinary payment plan. We also offer subsidized care to households facing financial challenges. If potential veterinary expenses are weighing on you, contact us. We will help. Please do not hesitate. If your pet has a medical problem, waiting can be both dangerous for the animal and even more costly than getting it dealt with early.
If you have unexpected bills, cutting back is sometimes necessary. A great way to slash expenses for clothing, housewares, furniture and special surprises is thrift shopping! It’s not only good for the wallet, it’s good for the environment! The RAPS Thrift Stores differ from some other shops in several ways. Unlike the largest chain of “thrift stores,” which are actually a for-profit company that gives only a tiny fraction to charity, 100% of revenues from our stores go directly to saving and improving the lives of animals. Not only that – our “secret of success” is keeping prices ridiculously low and turning over volumes of inventory every week! You can get a shirt, lamp or frying pan at RAPS Thrift Stores for a tiny fraction of what you would expect to pay at some other thrift outlets.
RAPS recognizes that these programs are a sort of stop-gap to deal with the individual impacts of larger economic problems. For this reason, RAPS is also an advocacy organization that encourages governments and other policymakers to adopt or enhance approaches that benefit animals and their people. For example:
We are gearing up for a new push to convince municipal and provincial governments to forbid rental housing providers from discriminating against families that include companion animals. The sometimes-insurmountable challenge of pet-friendly housing is a major reason for animal abandonment! This needs to stop – and we need a systemic approach to end it!
“Economic euthanasia” – the tragic situation where a family or a rescue organization is forced to euthanize an animal because they do not have the resources to provide the necessities of life – can be overcome. RAPS has a comprehensive plan to confront this deadly challenge. We will continue fighting for policies that mean no one has to make life-and-death decisions base dona ability to pay.