The Kitimat Community Humane Society reported its busiest year to date in 2024, overwhelmed by a record number of abandoned and surrendered animals, rising veterinary costs, and growing demand for community support.
“I’ve never in my years seen this many animals,” said manager Maryann Ouellet during a presentation to Kitimat council April 22. “It was pretty disappointing to see the numbers. Everybody wants to keep blaming COVID, but we can’t keep blaming everything on Covid.”
Last year the shelter took in 511 cats and 150 dogs, most of whom were reclaimed by their owners. The numbers are attributed to a lack of pet-friendly rentals, escalating vet costs, economic hardship, homelessness, and surrendered pets for unknown reasons.
Ouellet said Kitimat has become "ground zero" for the region’s animal welfare needs, coordinating foster homes as far away as the Hazeltons while fundraising to pay for the associate costs.
The society is grateful for local support, but it isn’t enough to meet growing demand. The entirety of what the District has provided to the Humane Society in 2024 is $231,674. This amount includes funding under an agreement for animal control services, the backyard chicken pilot project, and occasional services the society provides at local community events hosted by the District.
Veterinary expenses alone topped $210,000 in 2024 for spay and neuter surgeries, vaccines, microchips, and emergency care. Meanwhile, costs continue to climb, with spay and neuter procedures costing about $600 per female cat, $400 per male cat, and up to $1,200 per dog.
“Our costs unfortunately are always rising. The vet costs, the supplies costs—we’re having to come up with more and more,” said Devin Wall, president of the Kitimat Community Humane Society.
Fundraising efforts, including bottle drives, event concessions at Tamitik Arena, and community donations, help offset costs. But despite this, operational pressures continue to grow. Without the ability to transfer about 90 per cent of its cats to southern rescue groups, Ouellet said, “we’d have to start literally euthanizing them at the door.”
Seven cats were euthanized last year due to severe illness; eight dogs were euthanized for aggression.
The society also responded to 330 complaints, including 80 cases of dogs at large, 58 noise complaints, seven dog bites, 167 cat complaints, eight wellness checks for neglect or overheating, and removal of 10 deceased animals. Shelter patrols clocked 1,086 hours over the year.
In addition to cats and dogs, the shelter also cared for six rats, two rabbits, and three guinea pigs—all of which were adopted.
To improve conditions and adoption chances for animals, the society said it will soon launch a major fundraising campaign to replace its aging metal-wire dog kennels with plexiglass enclosures. The $175,000 upgrade aims to reduce noise, lower disease transmission, and create a calmer environment for the animals--all of which increases the animals' chances of adoption..
Ouellet stressed the shelter’s role in supporting public health and safety, noting they assist essential services like the RCMP, fire, mental health, and social service agencies when called upon.
During the council meeting, Councillor Terry Marleau lauded the society's efforts but urged a review of its regional support. He suggested the society consider limiting foster and rescue outreach to Kitimat and Kitamaat Village only. "It sounds harsh, but the level of fundraising you do is not sustainable. I think at some point you’re going to have to start saying ‘no—it’s a hard no.’"
Ouellet was receptive to the suggestion, acknowledging burnout is a serious issue. She said the shelter already increasingly says "no" to certain requests and is now focusing on educating other communities to manage and patrol their own animal populations.
Wall also emphasized the need for a broader cultural shift in how animals are valued. “It’s widely accepted right now that cats are a disposable pet,” he said. “We really need the advocacy to change people’s minds. To educate them about all kinds of animals, because they are living beings and we want to make sure they’re comfortable, healthy and happy.”
For low-income families, the society is also negotiating with veterinarians to create a spay and neuter subsidy, splitting the cost three ways: a third paid by the vet, a third by the society, and a third by the pet owner.
“These people are otherwise very good pet owners, but the costs are just too much for some,” said Ouellet.
