“Winter is usually a slower time for dog applications,” says Jodi Dunlop, Manager of the Muskoka branch of the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, (OSPCA), explaining that many people do not want a new puppy in the house in the winter.

  “We are busier with dog adoptions in the summer,” Jodi continues, adding that because cats are easier to look after cat adoptions are steady year-round.

  The adoption process starts with a visit to the local shelter, located on Cedar Lane in Bracebridge. Every potential owner fills out an application, which includes several relevant questions for the new dog or cat owner. These include questions on such things as breed, age, whether it is a male or female pet that is wanted, as well as asking about house training and responsibilities and general pet care and understanding. All this is aimed at gathering information to try to get the best possible match of pet and owner. If someone is looking for a specific breed or type and it is available at the shelter there is usually just a 24-hour waiting period while the application is processed. 

  The OSPCA has a mandatory spay/neuter policy, which means that any pet leaving the shelter is spayed or neutered, so the wait may be up to one week, if the vets who do this for the shelter are busy.

  If the adopted kitten or puppy is a male and is too young to neuter, (the female kittens and puppies are all spayed before being adopted) the shelter gives a certificate worth a certain amount towards neutering the male puppy or kitten. De-worming and vaccinations are also taken care of before the adopted pet leaves the shelter.

  “This past year was especially busy with cats,” Jodi points out, stating that they had 41 adoptions in November of 2002, 34 of those being cats.

  For more information call the Muskoka Branch at 705-645-6225 or e-mail ospca@muskoka.com.