As inflation puts cost pressure on pet owners and many return to in-person work, many Canadians are surrendering their “pandemic pets,” which were acquired during the COVID-19 pandemic, to animal shelters. Across Canada, these shelters are now overwhelmed by a growing number of surrendered animals.
Melissa Logan, director of education for the Alberta Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), says there may be a way to mitigate pet abandonment through what’s known as “comprehensive humane education.” .
Logan says this field of education encourages people to consider how their choices and actions affect animals and the world around them.
“We focus on how the animals feel,” Logan told Global News. “We encourage students to learn about the specific needs of their animals and learn about how to meet those needs.”
“Instead of giving up on animals, we should be curious about them,” he said.
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Read more: Canadian animal shelters face ‘perfect storm’ as more pets are surrendered
Logan says he recognizes that many Canadians are struggling financially.
“For those people, we really encourage them to look to their family or their community for support,” Logan said, adding that pet food banks are one of many resources.
While financial support could be helpful as a short-term solution, education is a crucial way to help Canadians understand responsibility towards animals, Logan said.
She adds that pet abandonment related to lifestyle and behavioral problems could be reduced with educational programs that build on empathy, respect and knowledge of animals.
4:16 Pet surrenders leave Peterborough Humane Society at capacity for several weeks Pet surrenders leave Peterborough Humane Society at capacity for several weeks – July 11, 2022
What is human education?
The Institute for Humane Education studies and teaches an approach that “makes connections between human rights, animal protection and environmental sustainability.”
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Sandra Scott, a professor in the Department of Curriculum and Pedagogy at the University of British Columbia, says she prefers to use the term “ecological justice” instead of “human education” because the former is centered around the earth.
According to Scott, having respect for animals is key.
“Because if you don’t have respect, you’re going to intrude on their space,” he said.
Read more: More pets to be surrendered to Toronto shelters amid back-to-work, rising costs
Scott says it’s important for people to do their research before adopting and buying a pet.
“That’s where education comes in. If we can build research skills (by getting a pet) into our educational curriculum, that would be great,” Scott said.
Scott says people need to think about what breed of dog or cat is right for them, have an idea of how much they will eat and the costs involved in the pet.
Barbara Cartwright, CEO of Humane Canada, says the increase in pet abandonment may have been caused by the pandemic, during which many Canadians bought pets from breeders with poor health care records.
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“It’s a real concern,” Cartwright told Global News earlier.
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News of an increase in pet surrenders comes after many Canadians rushed to adopt or buy pets when the COVID-19 pandemic began in March 2020.
According to a June 2021 survey commissioned by Purina, approximately 3.7 million Canadians adopted, bought or fostered a cat or dog during the pandemic.
What is human education like?
Scott says parents should be role models for children and teach them respect and responsibility whenever they interact with a non-human.
Parents should let kids explore their yards, take them to parks or read them books about animals, Scott said.
“We can start when kids are still in kindergarten, early childhood, that’s when they still have that sense of wonder,” Scott said. “We can begin to develop their empathy just by having them connect with the creatures in their own backyards.
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“If we see a dog, we don’t run up and start petting it, we’re showing our kids that, you know, we need to give that dog space and then have a conversation with the pet owner.”
Scott says it’s easy for many to adopt or buy a puppy for their home, but the responsibility of owning pets is another challenge.
“I really respect parents who tell their kids, ‘No, you can’t have a dog until you prove to me that you can have a dog,'” Scott said.
2:07 Surrenders of pets at Toronto animal shelters Surrenders of pets at Toronto animal shelters – July 5, 2022
Registered psychologist Kimberly Kreklewetz says human education should be part of everyday discussions in homes.
“The ultimate responsibility lies with the parents,” said Kreklewetz, who is also a faculty member in the Department of Psychology at UBC Okanagan.
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“No matter how much your children promise to take care of the dog … the recourse has to come from the parents,” he said. “When you apply for a rescue for a dog, they always ask and make sure everyone in the family is on board and that this adoption will work for everyone.”
Kreklewetz says that for her family, responsible pet ownership means that their pets are considered members of the family.
“They’re with us for their entire lives almost no matter what,” he said. “We want to teach our kids that we don’t give up on our pets when the going gets tough and that we always give them the best care we can.”
Bring human education into classrooms
Margaret Galan, an English Language Arts teacher at a high school in Richmond BC, says she started bringing her dog into her classroom 25 years ago on a casual basis.
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“I think every child should have the opportunity, obviously circumstances allow, to experience the love and compassion of an animal and form a genuine bond with them,” said Galan, who is also the director of the Animal Rescue and Care Society.
Galan says that by incorporating humane education into classrooms, she believes students can learn how to care for a pet and the importance of adoption. This, in turn, can reduce more and more pets being abandoned in the future.
Galan adds that the presence of an animal in the classroom can sometimes be therapeutic for students.
Read more: Infected with COVID-19? Hugging your cat or dog can make you sick, study says
“The pressure of the COVID-19 pandemic and the pressure to succeed makes students really vulnerable,” Galan said. “Having a pet in the classroom and showing them how relaxed and empathetic an animal can be can give them a great opportunity to de-stress and at the same time (teach them) to take responsibility.”
Logan notes that the Alberta SPCA offers resources for teachers on humane education that are aligned with a curriculum, but all educators should be aware of all the responsibilities of bringing pets to school.
Ultimately, parents, caregivers and educators need to think about “what kind of message they’re sending to students” — whether animals are treated as “a fun toy or a fun experience” — is entirely up to the adults involved, he said. Logan.
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“I know the students might enjoy these animals, or there might be some learning, but the first and foremost (thing to consider) is the welfare of the animal,” Logan said.
“If they can provide that exemplary care, kids can learn to care for animals through this classroom pet.”
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