New statistics from the Cochrane & Area Humane Society show an increase in the number of animals coming from Airdrie.

Jaime Anton, Fund Development Officer and Education Coordinator with the Humane Society, explained they started servicing Airdrie in April of 2016.

"From April to December of 2016, we had 91 animals come into the shelter. As of 2017 at the end of November, we had 171 animals already come through our door from Airdrie."

The majority of those 171 animals are stray cats. In total, seven dogs, 155 cats and nine other animals have been brought into the Humane Society from Airdrie this year. That works out to an average of 16 animals per month, an increase of 60 percent compared to 2016.

Despite the increase, Anton does not think there is reason to be concerned.

"I think a big part of it is just the realization from people that we are the organization out there that's able to assist and we're happy to be able to offer that because obviously with 171 animals in 2017 alone, it shows that there is a big need out there for some assistance."

While she thinks the Humane Society is doing a great job servicing Airdrie, she concedes that there could be a need for a shelter a little closer to home.

"The need is definitely there. We're certainly happy to help and the nice thing with us is the sense that we're already established. We have established programming in the sheltering and the adopting end of it, which makes it a little bit easier in terms of doing that. But certainly, with 60,000 plus people in the community, it's definitely a need for animal services for sure."

 

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