At Abby Cat Daddy the Feline Advocate Society (ACD), everything we do is rooted in one guiding belief: that every cat deserves safety, care, and dignity—especially those living in our own backyard. That’s why we focus exclusively on cats from the Fraser Valley. Because here, in the communities we call home, there is a quiet but devastating crisis playing out every day.

And if we don’t show up for these cats—who will?

We know that helping animals from out of region often feels like a powerful, compassionate choice. And it is, in many cases. But we’ve learned through lived experience that bringing in cats from other cities, provinces, or countries—while well-intentioned—can unintentionally hurt the cats who are already suffering right here. Cats who are often overlooked. Forgotten. Replaced by ones deemed more “urgent” simply because their stories come from elsewhere.

The Fraser Valley’s Hidden Crisis

The reality is that the Fraser Valley has a massive feline overpopulation problem. Every year, thousands of cats are born into homelessness—in fields, behind dumpsters, under porches, in industrial zones, and on farms. Many will never know a gentle touch, warm bed, or full belly. Others were once loved but have since been abandoned or left behind. And because of a severe lack of accessible spay/neuter services, affordable veterinary care, and education, the problem is only getting worse.

At ACD, our commitment is to the cats who were already here—the ones being born into these conditions every single day. That’s why we’ve invested in community-based programs like TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return), our Last Litter Initiative, and upcoming efforts to increase affordable access to standard veterinary care—so more people can help their cats before issues become emergencies.

Because we know we cannot simply adopt our way out of this.

And we certainly can’t adopt our way out of someone else’s crisis, either.

Adoptions Alone Won’t Solve This

Let us be clear: we fully support and respect the work of organizations that respond to crises outside of their home regions. Groups that fly in to provide disaster response, sterilization campaigns, medical aid, or policy reform in high-need areas are doing important, life-saving work.

But that work must go deeper than simply relocating cats through out-of-area adoptions. Because while adoption is beautiful and transformative, it is not a solution to overpopulation. It is a response to a symptom.

Without addressing the root causes—lack of access to spay/neuter, poverty, stray populations, abandonment, and unregulated backyard breeding—this cycle continues. For every cat adopted out, there are five more being born. We must be honest about this.

So while some organizations choose to extend their reach, we’ve chosen to go deep. To focus locally. To invest in programs that build long-term, sustainable change from the ground up.

Why Bringing In Cats From Outside Hurts Local Ones

When we bring in cats from elsewhere, we’re not creating more room—we’re filling space that could have gone to a cat already here. Our foster homes, vet appointments, donations, and adoptive families are all finite. Every cat brought in from another region means a local cat may be passed over, left behind, or euthanized elsewhere because the space simply isn’t there.

Our fosters are full. Our vet partners are stretched. Our adoption waitlists grow. And yet, the stream of local cats in need never ends.

It’s not about comparing suffering. It’s about recognizing capacity, and doing what we can where we are. And here in the Fraser Valley, there is still so much to do.

We’re Focused on Solutions That Last

At ACD, we believe the only way to create real, lasting change is to work upstream—to stop the suffering before it starts. That means:

• Expanding access to affordable veterinary care
• Supporting people who care for community cats
• Helping families keep their cats through education and resources
• Investing in public awareness about responsible pet guardianship
• TNR programs to humanely manage and reduce stray populations

Our goal isn’t just to find homes for cats—it’s to create a future where there are fewer cats suffering to begin with. We don’t want to grow to accommodate more emergencies. We want fewer emergencies. That’s the difference.

So while some may question why we “only” help Fraser Valley cats, we see it as a deep commitment—to our community, to sustainable change, and to the cats who otherwise have no one advocating for them.

Because local cats are just as worthy. Just as desperate. Just as deserving. And their futures depend on us keeping our promise to put them first.

Way’s to Support Our Efforts

• Donate to our TNR (Trap Neuter Return) Fund to help us address the growing overpopulation hands on.
• Donate to our Adoption Centre/Thrift Store Fund so we can increase our impact by having a sustainable income, increasing access to many services we have lined up to be announced.
• Buy tickets to our current 50/50 Raffle.
• Adopt from us!
• Volunteer with us!
• Shop our Paws Up Shop!
• Own a business? Sponsor our work, email us at donate@theabbycatdaddy.ca