Montreal SPCA launches emergency kits for pet owners
In an emergency, most parents have a plan for who will look after their children if they are in an accident or other crisis situation.
But...
Do pet parents have a plan for their fur babies?
As part of its first fundraiser of the year, the Montreal SPCA is sending donors an emergency kit for pet owners that will notify first responders that there is an animal that is unattended and needs caring for.
"When an animal owner falls ill or has an accident, their furry friends can quickly find themselves in trouble," the SPCA said.
Veterinarian Dr. Enid Stiles said that in addition to the physical effects of pets not having food, water or medication for a time, animals depend on a routine that is broken when a caregiver is absent.
"Just being left in a home, in itself, without a caregiver is very emotionally stressful for pets," she said. "That's not something they're used to. They might be used to 10 hours a day, but they're not used to 24 or 48, etc. So very stressful for them."
Stiles added that owners can attach information to pets' collars, directing anyone who is responsible for the animal to medical conditions or other important information.
"It's very, very important, especially for those that have medical needs," she said. "Some of us are not as fortunate to have a support system that's very close to us. We might have family that live in a different city, or we may not have family at all or close friends, we might be immigrants to the area. So I think it's just super important to be thinking about that."
The new SPCA emergency contact kit will notify any first responders that there is a pet in need of care. (SPCA)
The kits will include a flashing key ring that refers to a wallet card with an emergency contact person responsible for making sure any and all animals are looked after.
In addition, a front door sticker will alert first responders to rescue any animals that need care.
In an emergency, who will care for Betty? The Montreal SPCA is offering donors an emergency contact kit that will inform first responders that a fur baby is unattended and in need of care. (Daniel J. Rowe, CTV News)
Kit prices range from $8.50 for one to $23 for five kits.
The SPCA said that the organization took in 1,710 animals in 2023 through Montreal emergency services, and added that more than half of Quebecers (52 per cent) are pet owners.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6976926.1721883767!/httpImage/image.png_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.png)
DEVELOPING Alberta's request for federal assistance approved after fast-moving wildfire hit Jasper National Park: Trudeau
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced on social media that Ottawa has approved Alberta's request for federal assistance after a fast-moving wildfire hit Jasper National Park and its townsite late Wednesday.
BREAKING Loblaw, George Weston to settle class action over bread price-fixing for $500 million
Loblaw Cos. Ltd. and its parent company George Weston Ltd. say they have agreed to pay $500-million to settle a class-action lawsuit regarding their involvement in an alleged bread price-fixing scheme.
EXCLUSIVE One address, 76 foreign currency dealers: Inside Canada's money service business 'clusters'
An IJF and CTV News investigation has found dozens of cases across Canada where multiple money services businesses (MSBs) are incorporated at the same address, sometimes without the knowledge or consent of the location's actual occupant. One money laundering expert calls it an 'abuse of the system.'
U.K. police officer suspended after video appears to show a man being kicked in head
A British police officer was suspended from all duties Thursday after a video was posted on social media that appeared to show an officer kicking and stamping on the head of a man lying on the floor of a terminal at Manchester Airport.
Barrie-Innisfil MPP 'blacked-out' and crashed car into window of child care centre
Staff at a Barrie child care centre say they are frustrated by what they call a local MPP's inadequate response after a car crashed through a window in one of the toddler rooms.
Norad intercepts Russian and Chinese bombers operating together near Alaska in apparent first
The North American Aerospace Defence Command (Norad) intercepted two Russian and two Chinese bombers flying near Alaska Wednesday in what appears to be the first time the two countries have been intercepted while operating together.
Biden explains why he ended re-election bid in Oval Office address
U.S. President Joe Biden on Wednesday delivered a solemn call to voters to defend the country's democracy as he laid out in an Oval Office address his decision to drop his bid for reelection and throw his support behind Vice President Kamala Harris.
Jasper mayor says alert system to be reviewed after message 'glitch'
More than 25,000 people have been displaced from Jasper National Park since wildfires started to threaten the picturesque corner of Alberta Rockies on Monday, but the mayor of its namesake municipality says not everyone received an evacuation alert when it was sent out.
Unclaimed bodies are piling up in Newfoundland. A funeral director blames the government
A funeral director in St. John's says the bodies piling up in freezers at Newfoundland and Labrador's largest hospital likely belong to people whose loved ones couldn't get enough government help to pay for a funeral.