One child asks for a coat for her dog in case her family gets evicted. Another girl hopes Santa can bring her pet medication he needs. Another wishes for enough dog food.
A charity that provides subsidized pet care, including food hampers and medical treatment, for low-income residents is receiving Christmas letters from children asking for help for their furry friends.
Parachutes for Pets in Calgary has delivered 2,000 pet food hampers since the COVID-19 pandemic hit in March. But demand, especially during the second wave of the pandemic, is taking its toll on both the organization and those receiving help.
B次元官网网址淚nstead of Santa I wanted to write to you guys. My dog Badger is really cute and my best friend. He needs pills or he gets really, really sick. Could you bring me his pills for my Santa gift? IB次元官网网址檝e been really good and so has he,B次元官网网址� reads a letter signed Hanna and Badger.
The organization says it has received 14 letters from children in the last week that normally would have gone to Santa.
B次元官网网址淢y Christmas wish this year is a coat for my dog Max. Mom says we canB次元官网网址檛 pay rent after this month and I want Max to be warm if we have to stay in our car,B次元官网网址� wrote Kaylee.
B次元官网网址淚 have a warm coat and I think one would be good for him to stay warm. Please tell Santa this is my only wish. Merry Christmas.B次元官网网址�
Melissa David, who founded the charity, said the messages from the kids are heartbreaking.
B次元官网网址淚nstead of writing to Santa, theyB次元官网网址檝e written to us. Their Christmas wish is either for their dog to get medication and their dog to get food, so they donB次元官网网址檛 have to share their meal with them.B次元官网网址�
David said the charity referred KayleeB次元官网网址檚 mom, who was at risk of being evicted, with an agency to deal with her rent arrears.
She said the charity made it through the first wave of the pandemic, but the resurgence of COVID-19 in the last months has resulted in demands coming at a B次元官网网址渇ast and furious rate.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淭his second wave is going to cripple us. The amount of additional homeless with pets and domestic violence incidents involving pets is astronomical,B次元官网网址� David said.
People are still donating food items, she said, but thereB次元官网网址檚 also a need for cash, which is in short supply.
B次元官网网址淭his (pandemic) in addition to everyday challenges that are still here, such as cancer and illness, is really making it difficult for people to keep their pets at a time they canB次元官网网址檛 afford mentally to lose them.B次元官网网址�
David said she is reaching out in desperation since there are limits on what help the charity can arrange.
B次元官网网址淲e were passed over for most COVID grants because animals were not considered essential.B次元官网网址�
There are also messages asking for help from physically abused women who are afraid to leave their pets behind.
B次元官网网址淭hey want to take their pet with them. TheyB次元官网网址檙e at the lowest of lows and they donB次元官网网址檛 leave with anything but the clothes on their back. And if that pet stays, statistics are 80 per cent that it will be tortured or killed or used as some sort of revenge by the abuser.B次元官网网址�
The head of the Calgary WomenB次元官网网址檚 Emergency Shelter said crisis calls between April and September were up nearly 65 per cent compared with the year before.
Shelter CEO Kim Ruse confirms many women stay where they are for fear of their pets being harmed.
B次元官网网址淣ot having a place for pets to go often stops women from leaving abusive and dangerous situations,B次元官网网址� Ruse said. B次元官网网址淢any are unaware that there are options for keeping pets safe while finding safety for themselves and their children.B次元官网网址�
She said the agency does have pet-friendly rooms to accommodate small animals.
B次元官网网址淎llowing pets in the shelter will help provide emotional and healing support for women and their children during their stay.B次元官网网址�
Bill Graveland, The Canadian Press
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