Canada’s Federation of Humane Societies has released its annual report for 2014. It contains good news about dogs and depressing news about cats
If there was any doubt that dogs (not cats) are man’s best friend, the report puts that doubt to rest.
It shows that 69 per cent of stray dogs taken in by human societies or SPCA’s were reunited with their guardians, up 13 percentage points from 2013.
For cats the report reveals another story: just five per cent got home to their guardians.
Federation CEO Barbara Cartwright says there are two primary reasons for the discrepancy.
First, many cat owners believe, falsely, that cats can take care of themselves outdoors and will return if they get lost.
Second, more and more Canadians are making sure their dogs have collars, tags, tattoos and microchips, precautions most cat owners do not take.
The report found that the number of cats euthanized in 2014 continued to be twice as high as the number of dogs put down, although the overall figures were lower for both species than the previous two years.
Nationally, 20 per cent fewer animals were taken in by shelters in 2014 compared to the year before.
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