Sasha arrived at the Kelowna SPCA last September when her owners decided they couldn't continue caring for her. A month later she was discovered by a new family and now shares their home with a feline roommate.
Image Credit: BC SPCA
May 11, 2013 - 7:00 AM
A dog found wandering astray is likely to end up at the pound and hopefully reunited with its owner. But if no one shows up, that dog will go to B.C. SPCA and with a bit of luck into a new home. Thanks to a partnership between Kelowna's dog pound and the B.C. SPCA there's a system in place to keep neglected pets from roaming wild.
And with 13,000 dogs licensed for the Central Okanagan in 2012 there's bound to be a few that fall through the cracks.
“We work together, they take dogs from our pound that haven't been claimed,” says Bruce Smith, spokesperson for the Regional District for the Central Okanagan. The district runs the dog pound on the north end of town at Weddell place off Richter Street.
“That's where our dog control services handle stray dogs they've picked up and turned in,” Smith says.
Yesterday the district confirmed another three years of funding for Kelowna's SPCA to continue its programs. Providing abandoned animals with food, shelter and medical attention cost the society just over $910,000 last year.
Seven per cent of that cost was provided by the Regional District and the majority of those funds go to spaying and neutering procedures. Donations, service and adoption fees make up the remainder of the SPCA's budget.
“Every dog and cat adopted by the shelter gets spayed or neutered to prevent it from breeding,” Smith says. “Their service is complimenting our service, both promoting responsible pet ownership.”
Since its founding in 1989 the B.C. SPCA and their volunteers have been caring for neglected animals dependant on humans for their wellbeing.
In 2012 the SPCA took in 1,501 homeless pets, including:
330 adult dogs
81 puppies
451 adult cats
472 kittens
If you would like to adopt one of these animal companions you can visit the shelter on Casorso Road between 12:00 and 4:00 p.m. or search online at the BC SPCA Pet Search. To report a case of animal cruelty and neglect contact 250 861 7722.
To contact the reporter for this story, email Julie Whittet at jwhittet@infotelnews.ca or call (250)718-0428.
News from © iNFOnews, 2013