Mississauga Animal Services Responded to Over 4,000 Emergencies and Rescues in 2020

Animals can play an important role in an urban city and in our lives. With wildlife, they are part of an ecosystem that can help control other nuisance wildlife populations. While domestic animals or pets can provide companionship in our homes. In return, there are unfortunate moments when these animals may require some kind of help or care from people.

Almost every day in Mississauga, the City’s Animal Services team respond to emergency calls for animals that are injured or in distress. As essential workers, they are dedicated to rescuing wildlife and pets 24/7, as well as providing food, shelter, care and veterinary treatment. This is in addition to protecting the community through Animal Care and Control By-law enforcement, education and investigating standards of animal care among other roles.

In 2020, Mississauga Animal Services attended to 4,459 calls for animal emergencies (including injury or distress calls) and 172 calls for animal welfare or standards of care. Some of these animal rescues included:

• Lost or injured pets running loose;
• Ducklings trapped in a storm sewer;
• Coyote caught in a wired fence;
• Opossum that fell into a swimming pool;
• Squirrel that fell into freshly poured cement;
• Canada goose that was shot with 7 pellets;
• Guiding a snapping turtle to its annual nesting site;
• Helping orphaned wildlife – and many more rescues.

Animal Services also provided shelter and care for 906 pets that were lost, surrendered or abandoned. This led to staff placing 97 per cent of these pets through adoption, reuniting with owners and networking with other rescue organizations.

Residents can report lost pets and animals that are injured or in distress by calling Mississauga Animal Services 24/7 at 3-1-1.

To learn more about Mississauga Animal Services, visit mississauga.ca/animalservices.

Tags

• Wildlife and Pets