Moving Day Is on the Way—and PETA Has Tips for Keeping Dogs and Cats Safe

Annual Event Leaves Thousands of Animals Homeless; Group Stresses Importance of Keeping Animals With the Family

For Immediate Release:
June 23, 2014

Contact:
David Perle 202-483-7382

As July 1 quickly approaches and many Québécois families prepare to move, PETA is offering important advice for ensuring the safety of companion animals in the run-up to Moving Day—a time during which, year after year, thousands of dogs and cats are left on the streets to die and shelters are overflowing with abandoned animals. During last year’s moving period in Montréal alone, the SPCA took in approximately 34,000 abandoned animals.

Will you please remind your audience that an animal is a lifelong commitment? By reminding your audience thattheir animal companions bond with families and depend on them for a lifelong home, you can help combat an annual epidemic that leaves shelters overrun and scrambling to deal with the influx of thousands of abandoned animals. PETA also offers these tips, which could help save the lives of cats, dogs, and other companion animals:

• Do your very best to find an animal-friendly landlord. Ask for referrals from your local SPCA, veterinarians’ offices, companion-animal supply stores, and neighbours. Demonstrate to prospective landlords that you’re a suitable tenant with letters of reference, and offer to pay an additional deposit.
• When it’s moving time,make sure that your animals are wearing secure, legible ID tags with your new address and your mobile number. Keep small animals in a carrier and dogs on a leash.
• No matter the circumstances, never turn your animals loose to fend for themselves. If you absolutely cannot find an animal-friendly residence or a new home for your companions, as a last resort, take them to an animal shelter. Do not leave them on the streets, where they may be hit by cars, be abused by cruel people, or succumb to starvation, disease, or infection.
• Never leave animals unsupervised in a car or a moving van—they can suffer from heatstroke once ambient temperatures rise above 21 degrees, even if water is provided and the windows are slightly open.
• Watch for abandoned animals in need. If you see an animal in distress and are unable to help, call authorities as soon as possible.

For more information, please visit PETA.org or click here.