42 dogs returned to Oops-a-Dazy, 20 cats euthanized
Shannon LeClair
Times Reporter
On June 10 the Alberta SPCA took 65 animals from a foster home in Gleichen operating through the Oops-a-Dazy Rescue and Sanctuary Society. The society had until June 20 to reach an agreement with the SPCA to reclaim the animals.
As of June 20 that agreement had been made, and the animals were returned with the society paying the costs of the custody of the animals, which was mostly the boarding costs, and there were some vet fees.
“My understanding is that by the end of yesterday (June 23) I think they had the 42 dogs back. They told us they are not going back to the same property we took them from and so our officers will be a receiving a list of locations that they are going to,” said Roland Lines, communications manager for the Alberta SPCA.
The officers will follow up with a check of the new properties, but will not be keeping track of the animals past the initial check.
Three of the dogs were returned to their owner, who had brought them to the society after being displaced by the flood last year. The cats, however, did not have the same fate.
“The 20 cats were all euthanized for medical reasons,” said Lines.
“The cats were all members of our sanctuary program, which allows safe, loving homes for animals with chronic medical conditions. They were well cared for and given the opportunity to live great lives under the supervision of our veterinarians,” said Christine Campbell, chairperson with the Oops-a-Dazy board of directors in an e-mail response.
“Unfortunately, the ABSPCA does not share our no-kill philosophy and they chose to euthanize all of the cats. We are heartbroken because the cats were happy and ABSPCA informed me that they felt they had safe, clean conditions. We don’t feel that it is right to euthanize due to manageable disabilities unless the animal is in pain.”
The society is now looking for a few more foster homes to help with respite care and be back-ups in case homes don’t work out. Campbell said the society is especially looking for a farm or acreage-based foster home that can accommodate Willow, a malamute who does much better with a country lifestyle.
“She has a temporary foster home, but we hope she will find her a forever home soon. In the meantime, we continue to search for a foster home who can take her for longer term,” said Campbell.
The investigation is still ongoing by the SPCA into the initial conditions found at the property from which the animals were taken. For now, though, Oops-a-Dazy members are ‘over the moon’ excited about being reunited with the dogs, and Campbell said they will remember the very special cats.
Oops-a-Dazy is also looking for approximately 20 foster homes for another group of cats that come from a feral colony at a food bank in Southern Alberta. The cats have tested positive for a parasite and will need treatment for two weeks and monitoring for four weeks. Campbell said anyone who would like to be a part of saving their lives can contact her directly at 403-612-3011 or at Christine@oopsadazy.com.
The cats are expected to make a full recovery with treatment but need to be kept separated from other cats until they test negative for the parasite. Studies show that the parasite does not pose a risk to dogs or people with normal immune systems.