The Cochrane Humane Society had a busy 2015 with over 1,100 animals coming through it's doors, many of which were surrendered.

Jaimie Anton, Cochrane and Area Humane Society Fund Development Officer says, a slow economy is not just creating issues for people, but their pets too.

"I think we could correlate a lot of the things that we have seen, or the trends that we've seen over the last year with the economy," she says. "Definitely we've had a lot of medical cases, which is often if people can't afford vet bills, treatments or surgeries."

The Humane Society is fortunate to have an in-shelter hospital, a good veterinarian, and an Animal Health Technologist. The shelter can provide the surgeries and treatments that many of the animals require.

She explains lifestyle changes equate to many reasons why people decide to surrender their animal.

"Whenever there's a surrender that comes in, we try to take some of that information and data. Definitely changes in personal situations have been big over the last year, which can include things like having to move, and finding rental properties that are not pet friendly."

Anton wants everyone to know that the Humane Society is here to help if someone is in a difficult situation and in need.

"We are more than happy to help out; we do whatever we can to support and keep pets in the home. We've partnered with the food bank doing a pet food program. Certainly if surrender is the only option then you can phone and talk to us, and we'll do everything we can to make you as comfortable as you can be with it."

The shelter also has an Emergency Boarding program that provides pet boarding for people who may be experiencing a personal crisis, and a Pet Safe program that provides pet boarding for those fleeing domestic abuse who may not be able to take their pet with them at that time.