the essential
The Carcassonne animal protection society (SCPA) finds itself in an unprecedented situation with numerous litters of puppies arriving in recent days. The company is looking for foster families to care for these young dogs before offering them a new home.
“Three puppies yesterday, after four arriving the day before, seven last weekend and three in the middle of the same week… We’ll let you do the counting.” This message, posted on social networks on Sunday December 22 by the Carcassonne animal protection society, demonstrates the unprecedented situation in which it finds itself: “This is unheard of. This is the first time that we have had so many puppies during this period. We cannot accommodate them in good conditions”deplores the president of the SCPA, Isabelle Gilliet. Among these young dogs, a litter of seven was found in a box in Conques-sur-Orbiel.
Following its message on social networks, the company is looking for foster families to keep the puppies for a few days, or even a few weeks, with overall support from the SCPA. “People must live in the Carcassonne area to be able to take the puppies to the veterinarians and have an isolated room to shelter them. The puppies will be offered for adoption once the pound period has expired. host families complete a care contract which gives us security”she detailed. But as the end of year holidays approach, it is difficult to find host families. “Not to mention that we have all the other boxes which are full. I cannot estimate the number of dogs we have”souffle Isabelle Gilliet.
In addition to this research, the president points the finger at the behavior of the owners: “Usually, the birth of puppies takes place during the spring and summer seasons. On the one hand, there is a lack of sterilization, but we also face a lack of responsibility on the part of some: they do not take care of it, they are not reasonable.
Financial difficulty
If the SCPA continues to welcome many animals, it also finds itself in financial difficulty. “The ever-increasing number of treatments is putting a strain on the shelter's finances. With nearly 520 dogs and 630 cats welcomed this year (which is not yet over), the SCPA is facing significant veterinary costs, despite associative rates kindly practiced by our veterinarians (€135,000 between January and October 2024), as well as heavy charges, such as water and electricity bills, charges related to staff and good functioning of the shelter”explains the president.
And to conclude: “It is unthinkable for us to reduce the quality of care provided, the food given or to make small savings to the detriment of the comfort of our residents. However, the financial situation of the shelter is very worrying, and we will not be able to start the year 2025 without 90,000 euros, this sum representing the costs of two months.”
