If you are thinking of adding a furry addition to your home, the holiday season can be a great time to do so.

Tracy Keith, Executive Director for Cochrane and Area Humane Society, says while old school thinking wasn't in favour of adopting an animal over the holiday's, the mindset has shifted. "We still don't want people adopting out animals to give to other people as gifts but overall it can be a really good time because people are home more during that time, but you just want to be smart about it and not plunk a new animal into a completely chaotic household."

While final stats for 2018 won't be available until early in the New Year, Keith predicts the shelter will most likely see an increase in numbers. "I think we'll probably exceed last year's numbers or be right on par."

This past year, Keith says they have seen an incredible increase in the number of litters as well as high energy dogs. "There has been a lot of kittens this year and puppies as well, and higher energy dogs which can be harder to place and there seems to be more of those around. I think people just really need to be careful what they're adopting and we always say the energy level of the animal should match your energy level. I think people could benefit from recognizing that and getting a pet that is well suited to them."

Even with a strong volunteer base, Keith shares kittens, puppies, and high energy animals can create more challenges for the shelter. "We do have a good volunteer base, but it does require a lot of shifts and a lot of animal care shifts to cover the number of animals we have. We're actively looking for more foster homes right now because we get in so many animals like moms and pups that are going to be with us for several weeks before they are ready to go and old enough to be adopted out and dogs with high energy. With those, the shelter environment can be difficult one for them because there can be so much going on around them, but they're not getting as much energy out through exercise or brain games."

With numbers not going down, Keith shares many shelters are facing some of the same hardships. "For 2019 we'll probably see much of the same. In talking with other animal welfare facilities and rescue groups it seems everybody is in the same position. We do work with lots of other groups and we will try to help each other out but right now everybody is really full, so there isn't a lot of opportunities there either."

The shelter has a fulltime foster care coordinator for anyone interested in helping out. "She'll sit down with them and go through what type of home they have, what type of foster would be appropriate for them. It could be cats, dogs, adults, puppies, kittens, rabbits, hedgehogs, and even guinea pigs. Being a foster does make a huge difference in the lives of the animals because they get to live in a home where they can socialize properly and prepare them for adoption."

Despite growing numbers, the Cochrane and Area Humane Society has lots to be thankful for and look forward to. This past year they celebrated their 20th anniversary, held a soldout Gala evening which brought in $38,000, and has new programming on the horizon. "One is a nursey care program and it helps provide supplies for moms and babies and then we have a palliative paws program which is for the animals that come in at the end of life sort of stage and are put into foster homes where they stay to live out their lives. It is for animals that still have a good quality of life left, but are not all that adoptable, because it's not a long life they have left. Again we are looking for support for the new programs and definitely a big thanks to everybody who came out to support the gala. We had a good year here in terms of the number of animals we were able to help and we're looking forward to 2019."

The Cochrane and Area Humane Society is always graciously looking for funding assistance and if you are thinking of bringing a furry friend home, hours over the Christmas season are as follows:

Tuesday – Friday: 12:00pm – 5:30pm
Saturday: 12:00pm – 4:30pm
Sunday (adoptions only): 12:00pm – 4:30pm
Monday & Holidays: Closed