K-W Humane Society | Pets Are For Life

Cooler mornings and back-to-school ads tell us that soon our streets will be filled with loaded pick-up trucks and moving vans. In our community, with two Universities and a Community College, 30,000 post-secondary students (2001 Census Data) will be moving into town for school.

The students, looking at life on their own and exploring all the possibilities available to them, will consider a pet ownership to help ease the discomfort of loneliness or the stress of a new life. This decision is not one that should be made lightly. Consideration should be given to what will happen to the pet once the student makes new friends. “Pets are for Life” is our educational program aimed at making this audience more aware of all the issues involved with pet ownership, before they take in a pet.

It’s all about choices:

Students as new pet owners is not, in itself, a bad thing if they thought through their decision. In fact, some of the most dedicated pet owners come from this age group. The point is that pet ownership should be rewarding for a lifetime. Pets should never be an impulse decision and should always be more than just falling for cute, furry face. Ultimately, it comes down to the question, “Are you willing to make sacrifices to keep this pet for its life?”

A pet can be problematic when the owner’s living arrangements are temporary. What will happen when the term or school year ends and students are on to a new challenge? Will their plans include the pet they took in earlier in the year? When the pet becomes a nuisance what is to become of it? Too many pets are put out to fend for itself, set loose in a park, or left for a landlord to find. As the SPCA supporting this community, we are faced with the challenge of finding homes for pets that are left behind.

Scenario #1: Mary and Joe live in off-campus housing with other students. Joe has a girlfriend who lives in residence. One night Joe and his girlfriend bring home a kitten that his girlfriend has “fallen in love with” but can’t keep in her dorm room. Mary is frustrated because the household now has a pet that was neither wanted nor agreed to. Joe and another roommate have a fight one night and Joe moves out leaving behind the kitten but no forwarding address. Mary calls the K-W Humane Society to come and get the cat.

Mary’s story is typical of the situations we face when individuals do not fully realize the extent of pet ownership. Mary, Joe and their roommates would be our target audience. Students experiencing life on their own for the first time have the freedom to make their own choices. What will happen come springtime when the student needs to move home again or leaves to travel? What is to become of Fido or Kitty?

Scenario #2: Frank lives in off-campus housing with four other roommates. In September Frank decides he really misses his family dog and would like to get a puppy of his own. He approaches his roommates and together they decide that they can easily care for a puppy. They consult the local paper and find one that is “free to a good home”. When they bring “Zeke” home, they agree to share the cost of food. The roommates do a good job of keeping him fed and entertained, they even made sure the backyard has a good fence. But, over the course of the year Frank and his roommates become busier and busier with school. The roommates did not find time to train Zeke and they cannot afford to have him neutered. By March the puppy has grown quite large, he is stealing food off plates, has chewed several items of clothing and frequently barks at everything that passes the house. In the summer, Frank takes a job out west and leaves Zeke with the guys. No one takes responsibility for Zeke. The landlord calls the Humane Society after he discovers the dog a week after their lease ends, sitting in an empty apartment beside a ripped-open food bag.

As both the local Animal Control and Humane Society we are charged with taking in both surrendered pets and dealing with them if they have been abandoned in their apartments. It has become our mission to educate about the challenges that come with owning a pet for life. In fact, our message is simply: "Pets are for Life".

Things to consider before taking on pet ownership:

Location: Joe got caught with a cat in residence-should he move out or get rid of his cat?
• Most student housing facilities have a strict no pet’s policy in effect, are you willing to pay more or live farther from campus in order to keep your pet?

Time: Class, studying, socializing, spring break…where does Fido fit in?
• Pets depend on their owners for all the necessities, consider the following: Exercise, hygiene, vaccines, vet visits, house cleaning, play, safety, socialization, training, cleaning litter
• Your pet may live 10– 20 years, are you willing to meet all your pet’s needs for their whole life?

Money: Even if you feel you can make the commitment of time to keeping a pet, can you afford to?
• Food, litter, vaccines, grooming, dog license, vet visits, toys, boarding, obedience training, spay/neuter
• A dog can cost between $800 and $3000 annually.

Love: He’s sad to see you leave and can’t wait for you to come home…will you always have time for belly rubs?
• Providing an animal with food and water is not enough, will you have time to offer affection and socialization?

Ownership: Who really owns Tiger anyways? Ann’s parents would never allow him to go home with her, Sarah’s father is allergic, and Jen can’t afford his medication…
• When the school year ends, can you keep your new pet?

Kitchener-Waterloo Humane Society:

Since 1927, the Kitchener-Waterloo Humane Society (KWHS) has been responsible for the welfare of animals in the twin cities of Kitchener, Waterloo, and their surrounding communities. KWHS is one of the largest humane societies in Ontario. As a member of the community, our mission is to be a proactive leader in providing humane care through education, advocacy and enforcement to promote the well-being of all animals.

For more information, please contact Ward McAlister, Executive Director, or Kathy Innocente, Fundraising & Community Relations Manager at the Kitchener-Waterloo Humane Society at 519-745-5615.