Paws In The Park
Prince George Mayor Shari Green, Super Dog, and SPCA volunteer Norma Allison lead participants in the SPCA’s 2013 Paws For A Cause
Prince George, BC – The North Cariboo Branch of the BC SPCA got its wish of a ‘fur-tastic’ turn-out to its annual fundraising walk through Cottonwood Island Park today…
The top participant, as of this morning, for the 2013 event was Sherri Grantham, who raised $2350.00, while the top team, North Cariboo Dawgie Style, will contribute almost $7300.00 to local operations at the shelter.
Assistant Branch Manager, Sarah Thompson, says it’s been an exciting year for the North Cariboo Branch, which was just recently awarded an $86-thousand dollar grant to help address the city’s homeless cat population. Thompson says the numbers are high compared to other cities of similar size and the PetSmart Charities funding is expected to make a significant change in the number of cats and kittens coming into the shelter.
"Last year, I believe we took in 1300 cats – which is a lot – and a lot of it results from unwanted litters," says Thompson. "Currently, in the shelter right now we have 50 kittens in foster care." She says while the SPCA’s Spay and Neuter clinic offers low cost options, it’s still quite expensive for some people, so the grant assist those living in the Bowl area of the city with costs. Thompson expects up to 800 cats to be spayed and neutered as a result of the program.
She is hopeful more funds may be available next year to expand the offering.
Meantime, the assistant branch manager says the shelter also reaped the benefits of a $10-thousand dollar donation from the Sandman Community Garage Sale earlier this summer. "(As a result), we ran our first summer camp at the shelter in approximately seven years."
Thompson says the camp for kids was well received. "Now, we can focus a lot more on humane education because, going forward, the SPCA realizes that the investment needs to be in our children because they’re the ones who are going to help the animals in the future."
Comments
The only part of the Mayor’s speech that I could hear was that she has a dog, and that she wished she’d brought him as she thought this would have been a fun event for him. Really? A dog event… and doesn’t bring her dog?
It’s a shame that Olive Green wasn’t there. She is a lovely dog. Mayor Dan always brought his dog Freckles.
“Really? A dog event… and doesn’t bring her dog?”
Who cares. The sad thing is that the SPCA had to take in 1300 kittens because people aren’t responsible enough to spay/neuter their cats.
I wonder if the mayor found a garbage bin to throw the Tim Hortons cup into? They are few and far between in city parks.
Eagle, I’m sure she just tossed it on the ground. (-rolling my eyes-)
The Mayor did not wear the Paws for a Cause Tea Shirt for the Pops in the Park event. :-(
“I believe we took in 1300 cats”
So what happened to the cats after they were taken in? That is about 5 per day that the shelter is open.
Paws in yer Pockets? Is there no limit to causes asking for handouts? Gosh!
As long as people do not take care of their own or the government does .. there is no limit.
When all is said and done, those who decide to take in an animal as a pet, and find out they do not want it after all, deliver it to organizations such as the BC SPCA. Since it is not funded by people through the government,, the select people and organizations who want to help animals and their owners fund the work of such groups as the BC SPCA.
The BC SPCA is not unique in that. Canadian Cancer Society, PGSO, Doctors without Borders, Emergency rescue operations …… you name it, and it is there.
Remember, we are all part of the same village which raises the children, give dad a job, and safeguards their pets ….
Brings a tear to my eyes whenever I see a kind hearted philanthropist such as you Harbinger …. …. :-)
There are 82 THOUSAND registered (tax receipt) charities in Canada. Right now I am 1/10 of the way through the “A’s”. Gimmee a break. Besides, charity begins at home. Right?
Cancer, cancer, cancer. Lung cancer, cervical cancer, oral cancer, brain cancer, a cancer for every single organ and area of one’s body. Maybe one of these days if there becomes 366 areas of cancer within the body with one day set aside for fund raising each, maybe one cancer campaign will have to skip a year. Maybe a disease or malady like MS, MD, kidney disease, diabetes, heart disease, ALS, and numerous other disorders, all these money raising organizations will be reduced to a half day each for requests for handouts.
Or should that read 367? No calendar nearby. I didn’t include out of country requests for refugees, famines, digging wells, etc. Maybe if I didn’t have to pay half my income to the government. Hmmm? Where’s my pencil? “I got me some cypherin’ to do”, as Jethro would say.
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