Farmers looking for love and companionship – and maybe some old-fashioned, tail-wagging happiness to boot – may want to check out the Regina Humane Society.
“People in the rural area just don’t seem to understand that we have dogs that are suitable for everyone, farm stock as well,” said Gail MacMillan, director of communications at the Regina Humane Society.
She said many dogs up for adoption are used to living outdoors, which makes them ideal pets for a farm family.
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Most dogs now at the humane society are large breeds, such as German shepherds, labradors and other retrievers.
MacMillan said larger breeds are often more difficult to adopt out because of their size.
“City people often think that big dogs don’t belong in the city, which is absolutely untrue,” she said.
“There’s many, many options for them, and a rural community is one of them.”
But with so few people willing to consider large breeds, the Humane Society is running out of space.
“The problem we’re having right now is that the ones that are coming up daily, we don’t have space in our adoption wards for because they’re just not moving,” said MacMillan.
She said the humane society has good-tempered animals that have been dropped off by their previous owners for many different reasons.
She said contrary to what many people think, the dogs are not at the shelter because of behavioural problems.
The Regina society has room for 78 dogs, and MacMillan said they have already taken in 70 to 75.
It has made it mandatory for all adopters to have their new pets neutered.
“If it’s from out of the city limits, we have two options,” she said.
“We either charge a deposit, which is re-funded to the owner as soon as they prove that the animal has been sterilized, or we take them directly to a city vet and the owner picks them up from the vet.”
The Regina Humane Society animals can be viewed at www.reginahumanesociety.ca.
