Pet owners across the region are abandoning their animals at a higher rate than ever before according to local cat rescues.
Just this year, multiple dogs have been found emaciated and left for dead and now 13 cats have been rescued and brought into a home in Cambridge.
"It's insane that someone could do this and just leave all these cats," said Diana Lagerstrom, founder of Cat's Meow. "I understand that 13 cats are a lot, but there are other ways to surrender your pets."
The cats were left on a porch in Kitchener when Lagerstrom got the call at midnight Thursday asking her to take them in. In total, there were five adults and eight kittens that were left outside in the cold.
Lagerstrom said the cats were put in a large dog crate to transport them and when she saw them she was overcome with emotion; feelings of frustration towards the owners and sadness for the kittens.
"We called the humane society and they were just too full," she said. "That's the issue now, everywhere is too full."
She attributes the rise in surrendered and abandoned pets to the pandemic when the demand for furry companions was at an all-time high. But now that everyone is returning to work and their normal lives; these pets are being forgotten.
While on the phone with CambridgeToday, Lagerstrom was coordinating a time to go pick up four new rescues in Preston.
"There is a mom and three babies living by the side of a fence. They were probably kicked out of the house, but we will be able to find them a home."
Unlike the dogs that were found in "incredibly rough shape," most of the animals the Cat's Meow will foster are all in good health and lively.
The rescue works closely with the Toronto Cat Rescue chapter here in Waterloo region, and can usually find happy and healthy homes through the charity.
Lagerstrom noted that she is currently housing 23 cats, plus her own personal cats making a total of 26 little mouths to feed. This doesn't include the four she will be retrieving later today.
She attributed the success of the rescue to her partners like Laurie Beswick who helps foster and "the amazing community" she has garnered on Facebook. With nearly 2,000 followers, the Cat's Meow is able to raise money and donations of litter, food and get their cats neutered.
"Laurie is like the backbone of the Cat's Meow. She works with Axel's rescue and has around two houses full of cats. If it weren't for her we wouldn't be where we are today," she said.
But the increase in rescues makes it more difficult to keep up with demand, especially if they are running low on other available foster homes.
"One thing we really need are fosters. If you have a spare bedroom or extra space and can house a few cats until they find their forever homes, we need you," she said.
The amount of pets she's seen abandoned over the past year has been overwhelming. With local shelters typically full, she noted that there are many reasons why someone would either kick their pets out of the house or in some cases leave them in a cardboard box.
"With all the reasons, it's still not justified," she said. "Call local rescues, keep trying humane societies. You might have to wait a few days until someone has room, but it's better than leaving them all alone outside."
Anyone who wants to support the Cat's Meow can visit the group's Facebook page for more information.
