Christie Staniforth sits outside the Hope for Freedom Glory House recovery home where she has been staying. She has been in recovery and living without her cat Nala, who she struggled to find care for.Paige Taylor White/The Globe and Mail
After enduring decades of trauma, abuse and drug addiction, Christie Staniforth wanted to seek treatment about two years ago, but uncertainty about where to place her pet cat, Nala, delayed her decision.
Nala, a Bengal, has been a constant companion to Ms. Staniforth for six years, through struggles with paralyzing anxiety and depression which at times confined her to her home. Nala’s presence, especially when sitting on Ms. Staniforth’s lap, provided significant comfort during those challenging times.
So surrendering the cat was never an option. When considering getting treatment for her addiction, Ms. Staniforth reached out to her family, friends and searched online for fostering options, without success.
“I didn’t have anywhere for her to go, and so for a year, I kept putting it off,” she said.
Ms. Staniforth said if foster care were available for pet owners like her, it would bring a huge relief.
“You can actually fully concentrate on yourself to get yourself better, knowing that they’re going to be okay,” she said.
Christie Staniforth shows her cat Nala’s name tag at the Hope for Freedom Glory House. Ms. Staniforth says that she would have gone to treatment at least one year sooner if she had been able to find a temporary home for her cat.Paige Taylor White/The Globe and Mail
In 2016, owing to a sharp rise in opioid-related overdose deaths from drug poisoning, a public-health emergency was announced in B.C. Organizations that provide foster care for pets have been overwhelmed by the number of requests from individuals who seek treatment.
One of them is Pets-Matter Foster Care Society, which has had to say no to pet families almost on a daily basis.
“Sadly, we have had to turn away far more than we have been able to help, since there are simply not enough foster homes,” said the organization’s director, Diane Simmons.
Ms. Simmons said that since 2011, her organization has managed approximately 600 pets and a good percentage were for people planning to attend detox or rehab or who had already been admitted but whose pets had been left in situations that were not sustainable or safe.
According to Ms. Simmons and Kathy Powelson, executive director for Paws for Hope Animal Foundation, another organization that provides such services, many pet owners choose to delay their treatment unless their animals are safely cared for.
“We’re talking about an epidemic that is killing people, and these people will not get help if it means they have to give up their animal,” Ms. Powelson said.
In 2020, her foundation launched the No Pet Left Behind program to provide pet foster care for individuals fleeing violence. However, when the COVID-19 pandemic hit and interest in fostering increased, the initiative was expanded to assist people experiencing any kind of crisis.
“Very quickly did we see that the biggest need was for people going into treatment,” Ms. Powelson said.
She noted that since January, 2023, her organization has been forced to turn away 148 pet families wanting foster care while in treatment. She added these numbers only include areas within the Lower Mainland.
Ms. Powelson said there are few options for people in such a crisis. Some shelters provide compassionate boarding for pets for a maximum of two weeks, but individuals can be preoccupied with their recovery for weeks or months.
She said since January, 2020, staff at Paws for Hope have been able to help 16 pet families in treatment, providing foster care for approximately six months each.
Paws for Hope has received $286,500 in provincial funding through Community Gaming Grants since 2020. But Ms. Powelson said her organization has been seeking more government funding so that the program can be expanded beyond the Lower Mainland. However, this plea has been denied for two consecutive years.
The Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions said in a statement that it does not track requests for pet foster care by people seeking addiction care, nor has the ministry received significant correspondence calling for increased support for pet foster care services for people seeking addictions treatment.
According to the ministry, when someone seeks treatment, they work with their clinical team to develop a plan for treatment that meets their needs including considerations such as their job, child care and pets.
The unattributed statement said it’s not possible to provide support to all organizations seeking financial assistance, but it’s grateful for people and organizations for dedicating their time, energy and expertise to mental-health and addictions work in the province.