Calls flood in to adopt abandoned baby
CanWest News Service; Saskatoon StarPhoenix
Published: Thursday, February 08, 2007
Photograph by : Canadian Press/Dave Stobbe
Ed Anderson sits with his dog Peeka in his Saskatoon, Sask. home on Tuesday. Anderson credits Peeka for alerting him Saturday when a newborn infant was abandoned outside the door of his house.
SASKATOON – Many people have called wanting to adopt an infant who was found abandoned on a doorstep in extremely cold weather, but child welfare authorities caution that any potential adoption will take place through established channels.“There are procedures to be undertaken with respect to adoption. It’s not just personal preference through any kind of compassionate phone calls,” said Janice Krumenacker, director of the Saskatchewan Adoption Program.
Community Resources offices are receiving phone calls from around Saskatchewan and even from other parts of Canada as people offer to adopt the baby who was abandoned on a Saskatoon doorstep on Saturday morning by her teenage mother.
“This kind of news story just tugs at the heart strings and people feel compelled to call,” said Krumenacker, who wasn’t sure of the exact number of calls received.
If baby Jane Doe becomes available for adoption, she will be placed with one of the many families currently registered with Saskatchewan’s adoption program.
About 200 families have already been approved or are in the process of being approved and another 200 or so are on a waiting list to begin the approval process.
People who are calling specifically about baby Jane Doe will not jump the queue, says Krumenacker.
Krumenacker, who couldn’t speak about the specifics of the baby’s case, said an abandoned baby is generally cared for by a foster family until the legalities of the child’s status is determined by a judge.
Saskatoon StarPhoenix
© CanWest News Service 2007
