Animals in Distress? Mississauga Animal Services to the Rescue

Raccoons, skunks, coyotes, beavers, snapping turtles, swans – are just a few examples of the type of wildlife that call Mississauga home.

Mississauga Animal Services is a dedicated team of professionals responsible for helping animals in need. As essential workers, they are available 24/7 to respond to and attend animal-related concerns – from wildlife to domestic animals.

In 2021, the Mississauga Animal Services team responded to 5,594 animal emergency and rescue calls for animals that were injured or in distress. A 56 per cent increase from 2019. Increased wildlife activity, growing populations and greater urban density are contributing to the increase in emergency calls.

Education is also a key element of the team’s work. Helping residents and pet owners understand the best ways to care for their furry loved ones and co-exist with the wildlife just beyond their backyards.

The team had many rescue highlights throughout 2021. While animals come in many sizes – whether big or small – Animal Services values all lives of these animals equally:

• A chicken was finally captured after almost five months on the loose and before winter set in
• An opossum mother with babies attached to her was hit by a car – officers transported them to a wildlife rehabilitation centre where they recovered
• A young merlin that fell out of a tree was reunited with its family
• A red-tailed hawk caught in netting was freed and released
• A coyote with a bucket over its head, which prevented it from eating or drinking – was captured and brought to a wildlife rehabilitation centre for treatment
• A snapping turtle crossing a busy road was safely escorted into a nearby creek
• A baby raccoon was stuck in a residential fence and was freed by officers and reunited it with its mother
• A family of ducklings were found in a backyard pool– officers brought them to a nearby stream

In accordance with the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, wildlife returned to the wild needs to be released within one kilometre of where they were found.

The team also matched its best year on record for cat and dog save rates in 2021 at 96.4 per cent. Cats or dogs that came into the shelter – whether they were lost, surrendered or abandoned – were successfully placed through adoption or reunited with their owners. 

If you see or encounter an injured, distress animal or lost pet, please call Mississauga Animal Services 24/7 at 905-896-5858.

Residents can also support Mississauga Animal Services by donating to the Animal Services Special Care for Animals and Resources Fund (SCARF). Donations help support their commitment to keeping animals in their care healthier, safer and more comfortable so they are healthy enough to be adopted. To donate online, visit mississauga.ca/scarf.

Learn more about Mississauga Animal Services, including wildlife safety tips and how to safely co-exist with them at mississauga.ca/animalservices.

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Tags

• Wildlife and Pets