The Ontario SPCA in Cornwall gears up for influx of animals during kitten season

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Cornwall, ON (March 24, 2026) – As warmer weather approaches, the Ontario SPCA and Humane Society Cornwall and Region Animal Centre is preparing for “kitten season,” the time of year when animal centres typically see a surge in pregnant cats and litters of kittens in need of care.

Each year, kitten season places increased demand on shelters and the resources required to care for vulnerable young animals. To help prepare for the expected influx this spring, the Cornwall and Region Animal Centre is seeking foster volunteers who can provide temporary homes for kittens too young for adoption.

Those interested in learning more are invited to attend a foster volunteer open house on Saturday, March 28, from 10 a.m. to noon.

Attendees will:

• Learn about kitten care, including bottle feeding and the needs of neonatal kittens
• Hear firsthand from current foster volunteers about their experiences
• Gain a better understanding of what fostering involves and the supplies provided
• Learn how spay/neuter programs help prevent pet overpopulation

“Kitten season can be an extremely busy and challenging time for our small but mighty team, but we are preparing to ensure every animal gets the care they need,” says Candice Gordon, Manager, Ontario SPCA and Humane Society Cornwall and Region Animal Centre. “We’re incredibly grateful for the ongoing support of our community. From fostering and adopting to donating, every act of support helps give vulnerable animals a second chance.”

The Cornwall and Region Animal Centre consistently sees one of the highest animal intakes among the Ontario SPCA’s 13 animal centres across the province, highlighting the growing need for the new 8,000-square-foot animal centre and veterinary clinic currently under construction.

Despite the high intake, the Cornwall centre also has one of the shortest average lengths of stay for animals in care, at around 11 days. While the centre offers community support services aimed at keeping pets with the families who love them, it also supports those who are no longer able to care for their animals. In 2025, the centre took in close to 550 animals that were surrendered by their families, which was up 30% from the year before.

To learn more about fostering, adoption, or how to support animals in need, visit ontariospca.ca/cornwall

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Media Contact

Arianne Kirkey
Community Outreach Coordinator,
Ontario SPCA and Humane Society Cornwall and Region Animal Centre
(613) 937-7622
[email protected]

The Ontario SPCA and Humane Society

The Ontario SPCA and Humane Society is a registered charity that has been changing the lives of animals for over 150 years. The Society provides care, comfort and compassion to animals in need in communities across Ontario. It values all animals and advocates to treat them with respect and kindness. The Society strives to keep pets and families together and does so through a variety of community support services, such as sheltering and adoptions, including emergency sheltering, feral cat management programs, animal transfers, food distribution, humane education, animal advocacy, and spay/neuter services.

The Ontario SPCA does not receive annual government funding and relies on donations to provide programs and services to help animals in need. To learn more, or to donate, visit ontariospca.ca. Charitable Business # 88969-1044-RR0002.

The Ontario SPCA and Humane Society Cornwall and Region Animal Centre, formerly the Ontario SPCA Stormont, Dundas & Glengarry Animal Centre, is located on the landsof the Akwesasne Mohawks and their ancestors. We also acknowledge the Algonquin, Haudenosaunee (Ho-den-oshow-nee) (Iroquois), Huron-Wendat (huron-wen·dat), and Abenaki who are neighbours and partners to the Akwesasne Mohawk.