Matted Shih Tzu and pregnant guinea pig rescued as Hamilton area shelters warn of rising pet abandonments
When Tammy Gaboury received a photo of a severely matted Shih Tzu, she was shocked by the condition of the dog. The senior dog, named Angel by shelter staff, was found by railroad tracks and was so matted that she couldn’t move. Her nails were curled into her matted hair, making it impossible for her to walk.
Gaboury, who is the animal care manager at the Niagara SPCA and Humane Society, described Angel as incredibly resilient despite her suffering. “She’s our shelter angel,” Gaboury said, emphasizing the dog’s gentle and sweet nature even after enduring such neglect.
The groomer who helped remove Angel’s matted hair, Vanessa De Prophetis, shared in a video that it took her two and a half hours to carefully cut away the tangled fur. Despite ongoing medical issues, Angel has received strong community support, and her case has been turned over to the Provincial Animal Welfare Services for investigation.
Gaboury highlighted the importance of reaching out to local resources for struggling pet owners. She urged pet owners to work with shelters and organizations, even if immediate assistance is not available.
Unfortunately, Angel’s case is not an isolated incident. Gaboury noted that more dogs are being abandoned in rural areas of the Niagara region, leading to shelters being fuller than ever before. Animal shelters and agencies across Canada have reported a similar increase in pet abandonments, which may be attributed to rising costs of living, including pet care expenses.
In the neighboring region of Hamilton, similar situations of pet abandonment have been observed. Lauren Lowe, a resident of Hamilton, found a pregnant guinea pig hiding in Gage Park while walking her dog on a cold day. Lowe named the guinea pig Lavender Bloom and took her home, suspecting that she had been dumped.
According to Karissa Kugler, communications manager at the Hamilton-Burlington SPCA, there has been an increase in animal abandonments in the area. The shelter has seen upwards of two dozen abandonments recently, with the numbers continuing to rise. Kugler attributed this trend to the current state of crisis that many pet owners are facing, feeling like they have run out of options.
To address the growing issue of pet abandonments, shelters like the Niagara SPCA and Humane Society and the Hamilton-Burlington SPCA are providing educational resources and programs that offer low-cost veterinary services and access to pet food banks. By raising awareness and offering support to struggling pet owners, these organizations hope to reduce the number of pets being left behind and ensure the well-being of animals in their communities.
