Montreal’s SPCA is seeking good homes for their rescued animals, and they’re cutting fees to do it.
Starting Monday, the animal shelter will be reducing adoption fees by half from Dec. 17 until Christmas Eve, a measure they hope will entice would-be pet owners to give an abandoned animal a second chance.
Though the SPCA doesn't encourage pets as Christmas gifts, if people do want to adopt pets over the holidays, it suggests doing so responsibly,
Adoptions of cats and dogs includes sterilization, vaccinations, de-worming, and microchipping before people receive their pets.
“What it would cost a person to go to a pet store by the animal get it vaccinated, get it sterilized would probably cost them over $1,500,” said Nicholas Gilman, director general of the SPCA.
The SPCA makes plenty of effort to ensure their pets and potential owners are matched up properly.
“We want to make sure that the person who is actually going to be caring for the animal is the person that comes here to the SPCA, learns a little bit about the animal in question, we get a chance to determine how to best place that animal with them,” said Gilman.
That’s how one-and-a-half-year-old Chico became the right fit for the Galassi family.
Father Robert Galassi said he felt the SPCA initiative was going to encourage potential pet owners.
“Actually, I think it's a fantastic idea. There just so many dogs that need to be in good homes,” he said.
His son was just glad to get a new friend for the holidays, because he’s always wanted a dog.
“It's been at least since I'm born I'm begging for it,” he said. “It's my favourite animal and I need a friend to play with.”
