SPCA sees record jump in abandoned pets in Montreal

The Montreal SPCA says it is dealing with three times more abandoned animals than usual.

The animal protection agency typically sees a jump in abandoned pets leading up to Montreal's traditional July 1 moving day, but this year the situation is especially dire.

AnitaKapuscinska, a spokesperson for theSPCA,said a record751 pets, the majority of themcats,were abandoned between June 1 and June 11,compared with623 pets during the same period last year.

The numbers have been on the rise since 2012, she said.

Kapuscinskasaid no-pet clauses in residential leases areone of the main reasons people leave pets behind.TheSPCAlaunched a petition to have the government nix the clauses last year to no avail.

Shewants the Quebec government to follow Ontario's lead and invalidate theclauses.

If anything, the landlords are victims in the situation, especially if the animal causes damage to a dwelling once it's abandoned.- KevinLebeauoftheQuebec Landlords' Association

The SPCA is hoping this year's increaseisbecause more peoplemoved prior to July 1, and the numbers will die down for August, but she's unsure.

They are seeking out-of-province shelters to deal with the overflow.

Landlords say theyaren't to blame for desertion

Kevin Lebeau, spokesperson for theQuebec LandlordsAssociation (APQ), saidthe argument that the clauses are to blame formore people are abandoning pets is "absolutely ridiculous."

He saidlandlords have been forced to deal with pets thiswaybecause in Quebec, unlike a lot of provinces, landlords can't ask for a damage deposit.

• Quebec animal welfare advocates wantprovince to ditch no-pet clause

"If anything, the landlords are victims in the situation, especially if the animal causes damage to a dwelling once it's abandoned," he said.

Lebeau said the changes the Quebec government made to the province's animal welfare lawlast year provided landlords with new resources.

"If they discover that there's been a pet abandoned in a dwelling, before the situation gets too bad, they can call the local SPCA (...) andsomeone designated by the government can come and take the animal into care. And the attempts will be made to find the owner and hold them responsible," he said.