(JENNIFER STAHN / iNFOnews.ca)

VERNON - The Vernon SPCA needs a little help from its friends.

Branch manager Chelsea Taylor says donations are down at the moment. The non-profit organization relies on the public not only financially, but through donated cat litter, laundry detergent, garbage bags and other essential items.

“We seem to be running out of those (items) a bit more frequently which means we have to use some of our fundraising dollars which we haven’t had to do in the past,” Taylor says.

The branch receives no government funding and no grants from the municipality.

“We’re almost 100 per cent relying on donations,” she says.

The modest adoption fees don’t cover the costs of housing the animals, providing them with medical treatment, and spaying and neutering them, Taylor says. What does is money generated through fundraisers, like Paws for a Cause. So far, that annual fundraiser has raised roughly $18,000 but staff would prefer not to dip into those dollars for things like garbage bags and dish soap.

“If someone is able to pick up an extra bottle of Dawn, it saves us time and money,” Taylor says. “Every little bit helps.”

Bleach, laundry detergent and dish soap isn’t always what comes to mind when you think about donating to the SPCA, but Taylor says those items are crucial to disinfecting beds, bowls and floors.

“We have the washer and drier running all day long, seven days a week,” she says.

The branch is caring for 90 animals at the moment, a bit more than usual for this time of year so any and every donation is greatly appreciated.

The SPCA is also looking for someone to grade their steep, rutted and badly potholed road before winter arrives.

Anyone interested can contact the branch at 250-549-7297.

Donations can be made online or in person at the SPCA, located at 4800 Haney Road. The branch is open Tuesday to Saturday from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. Donations can be left at the gate during non-office hours.

The items most needed right now are:

Clumping cat litter
Bleach
Laundry detergent
Dish detergent
Black garbage bags
Dog chews (toys or treats)
Canned food (dog, puppy, cat and kitten)
Cat toys
Cat treats

To contact the reporter for this story, email Charlotte Helston at chelston@infonews.ca or call 250-309-5230. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.

News from © iNFOnews, 2014