Pets belong with the people who love them. Through our community support services, the Ontario SPCA and Humane Society is working to keep families together. In many communities, pet-friendly services for unhoused people are limited, but thanks to a unique partnership in Durham Region, more people experiencing homelessness can keep, and care for, their beloved pets.
Housing barriers in Durham Region
The Humane Society of Durham Region, one of 12 Ontario SPCA animal centres operating across the province, is working together with the Christian Faith Outreach Centre (CFOC) to help change the lives of animals, and their people.
According to the CFOC, in recent years the demographics of the homeless community in Durham have shifted from being primarily individuals experiencing long-term homelessness, to the “employed homeless.” This new demographic includes families, couples, and people with pets. For many, it’s their first experience being homeless.
“Not having pet-friendly services is a barrier for people who are unhoused,” says Kayla Montes, Community Outreach Coordinator, Humane Society of Durham Region. “Our goal is to provide these individuals and families with the crucial items they will need to house, and care for, their furry family members within a shelter setting so they are able to stay together.”
Forming meaningful community partnerships
Kayla says she first connected with CFOC in December 2023 through the Ontario SPCA’s Community Outreach Services. At that time, she says the CFOC needed pet food, collars, jackets, and especially kennels to keep animals and patrons safe. Now the CFOC connects with Kayla whenever they’re in need of donations, and she works with community partners to fulfill those needs.
“The Durham community is very supportive and helpful. Whenever we put an ask out on social media, within the next few days we have what we need,” says Kayla, noting that pet food is also generously donated from Walmart Logistics in Mississauga.
Durham Region transitional housing
CFOC has two locations, one in Whitby, which opened in March 2024, and the other in Ajax, which became dog-friendly in March. The Whitby location can accommodate up to four dogs at one time and operates through a waitlist. The waitlist currently has approximately 180 patrons and 30 accompanying pets. Ajax is first-come, first-serve and can accommodate two dogs at one time.
“Both shelters are at max capacity for animal companions and have been since the inception of the dog-friendly policy,” says Caitlin Rae, Strategic Communications & Fund Development Coordinator, CFOC.
Caitlin says the patrons share with her how much their animals mean to them. “She’s been with me through thick and thin,” one individual says about their pet. For many patrons, Caitlin says they would rather remain unsheltered with their animals instead of rehoming their pets to access social services, like a shelter.
Kayla says the humane society also supports transitional housing patrons at Durham Housing & Retention Services with food, collars, and kennels as needed.
“Knowing that we have this connection, it opens the doors for more people to see that this is actually possible for shelters and transitional programs to accept pets,” says Kayla. “We don’t want people to have to choose between seeking help during hard times and keeping the animals who are a member of their family.”
Additional support services
Another challenge faced by people accessing social services is pet vaccination. Vaccines are required to access many social services, and not having them can result in fines the patrons have no means to pay. In May, the Ontario SPCA held a wellness clinic in Durham for underserved pets in the region, offering vaccinations and microchip services.
The Ontario SPC also offers a wellness clinic in Stouffville and Barrie for families without the means to take their animal to a local veterinarian for routine care. The clinics provide general wellness examinations, vaccinations and, when necessary and requested by the family, end-of-life care. The purpose of the clinics is to provide accessible care to those who receive government subsidy, have an Indigenous status card, are referred through social services and/or do not currently have a relationship with a local veterinarian. To learn more, visit ontariospca.ca/wellnessclinic
If you, or someone you know, is struggling to care for an animal, reach out to your local animal centre to discuss your needs and learn more about available resources.
To donate to help keep pets with the families who love them, visit ontariospca.ca/donate
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