Holiday pet adoption campaign: The season of giving a fur-ever home

iAdopt for the Holidays: 'Tis the season to find a forever home

It's that time of year again- the season of giving, and I have an excellent way to give. It's a win-win! iAdopt for the Holidays is sponsored by Petplan pet insurance. This holiday adoption campaign runs now until December 31, 2020, at participating SPCAs, humane societies, and rescue groups across Canada. Ontario SPCA Renfrew County Animal Centre, located in Pembroke, Ontario, services the Renfrew County community where my family is from. Their goal for this holiday campaign is to find loving forever homes for as many animals as possible.

It has been a difficult year for non-profit organizations, and the centre has not been immune. They have had to cancel annual fundraising events that generate a large amount of their funding. The biggest impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the Centre is that they have had to close their doors to the community. With people unable to walk in and view adoptable pets, raising awareness about adoption is critical. I connected with Heather Jobe, the Community Development Coordinator at the Ontario SPCA Renfrew County Animal Centre, to inquire about how they are making connections with the pets in their care and potential pet parents. 

Where do I find pets available for adoption?

The most exciting thing about the iAdopt campaign is that centres all over Canada are participating. No matter where you live, you are sure to find a centre close enough to connect you with your new furry-family member. It's as easy as a click of the mouse!

"You can visit iadopt.ca. There you can find a participating adoption center near you," said Heather. "If you are looking to adopt a pet you can find your closest adoption center and view any available pets."

The centre has been working hard since November 12 when the campaign kicked off to make sure that this holiday season is full of success stories. Stories like Vie's. Vie was in rough shape when she came to the centre, but after several vet visits and expert love and care, she has been added to their long list of adoption success stories. 

"Yesterday we sent home a beautiful girl named Vie. She came in with an upper respiratory infection (URI) and worms. She was in our care for 2 months and in foster care," said Heather. "She’s been adopted not and she’s just an awesome happy ending."

CLICK HERE to see the adoptable pets at the Ontario SPCA Renfrew County Animal Centre. 

How does the adoption process work during the pandemic?  

The centre is unable to open its doors to the community during the pandemic, so they have had to re-think their adoption process. They have been offering potential adopters Zoom meet and greets with adoptable pets. Heather has attended some of these virtual meet and greets and really enjoys this new way of connecting fur-families. 

"They are so much fun because you have the opportunity to share with potential adopters some of the different personality traits of these animals," Heather said. "Some of the animals are right into these Zoom calls and some of them are more interested in exploring and doing other things. But they're a lot of fun."

Zoom meet and greets as opposed to in-person meetings keep potential adopters and the folks at the centre safe during the pandemic. It's one of the many ways that the centre is finding innovative ways to continue helping pets during the COVID-19 pandemic. Who knew pets would have Zoom meetings just like people do? Most of the pets seem to enjoy it, and it allows the potential pet parents a chance to get to know the animals.

"Some of them are right in your face, so you get a really good feel for how up close and personal these animals want to be with you," said Heather. "It’s a pretty neat way to do it. It would be nice if we could safely welcome the community into the center but we need to change things up a little bit and still give these animals the opportunity to find their homes. We found a good way to do it and it's working really well." 

Is there a lot of adoptable pets at the Renfrew County OSPCA? 

There is almost always a variety of pets looking for forever homes at the centre. The centre adopts out a lot of cats and kittens. They also adopt out a variety of exotic and small animal species. Their facility is not quite ready to permanently house dogs, so many dogs are relocated to different centres. I asked Heather what animals they currently have in their care.  

"At our Renfrew County Centre we do have several cats. We’ve got some kittens and moms in foster care. We have a couple bunnies that are available for adoption right now," Heather said. "Things change around here quickly, literally every single day. We do have quite a few animals available and it's important to check back on our website frequently because things change so often." 

CLICK HERE to see the adoptable pets at the Ontario SPCA Renfrew County Animal Centre. 

It's the season of giving, so give a fur-ever home!

Raising awareness about pet adoption is important all year round, but iAdopt for the Holidays brings us together as a community during a time when supporting the community is just what we do. During the holidays we give, and we receive. That is what pet adoption is all about. You give a forever home and you receive a best friend- a family member. Unconditional love is the gift you receive from your pet, and it can not be matched or replicated. 

"I just want to remind everyone that there are so many reasons to choose adoption," Heather said. "If you are considering bringing a new friend into your family then consider adopting. You'll be changing a life for the better- your own life and that animal's life." 

Our lives have changed so much during the pandemic. We are all concerned with our health and the health of others. But it is impossible to ignore the impact that COVID-19 has had on mental health. The positive impact a pet has on mental health makes it the perfect companion during this isolating time. Giving, donating, and making a positive impact on your community is also good for mental health. iAdopt for the Holidays doesn't just connect you with a new furry family member, but the act of adopting itself is an uplifting experience. 

"You will be making a good, compassionate choice. You will be giving a deserving animal a second chance," said Heather. "It just feels good. We all need to feel good right now."  

CLICK HERE to see the adoptable pets at the Ontario SPCA Renfrew County Animal Centre.

CLICK HERE to check out the Ontario SPCA Renfrew County Animal Centre's Facebook Page.