The Sunshine Coast branch of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (BC SPCA) has seen a massive influx of strays and lost pets this year, according to branch manager Cindy Krapiec.
“This has been a really difficult year for the shelter,” Krapiec said. “Not only have we had a lot of cruelty investigations, a lot of animals coming in – both from here on the Sunshine Coast as well as overflow coming from the Lower Mainland that we’ve been able to help with – but in our local community, we’ve seen a lot of animals coming in here, which has put a pretty big burden on the shelter.”
Between Jan. 1 and Sept. 12 this year, the shelter on the Sunshine Coast has received 129 stray animals; during the same time frame in 2015 the shelter only saw 79.
A cruelty investigation and seizure last April left the Sunshine Coast BC SPCA branch with 11 Yorkshire terriers. One of them, Mutt-tilda, is now living with Mary Winn, chair of education and resources on the community council for the Sunshine Coast BC SPCA. Winn said the shelter recently took in another large batch of stray dogs.
“That’s a huge undertaking and we have a very small staff,” Winn said. “Everybody kicks in and helps, whether you’re on the council or a volunteer. Everybody does a bit of everything.”
Krapiec said they are looking for more volunteers to help deal with the influx of strays this year. Application forms are on their website: www.spca.bc.ca/branches/sunshine-coast
“Volunteers can help wherever suits them best,” she said. “Everybody has a different preference on how they want to help out, and that’s OK – we’re pretty accommodating.”
There is a silver lining to the higher number of intakes. According to Krapiec, more pet owners are retrieving their lost pets than in the past.
“So far in 2016, 92 per cent of dogs and 50 per cent of cats were picked up by their owners,” Krapiec said. “These numbers are phenomenal – the national average of stray cats that have been brought in to shelters and claimed by their owners is nine per cent. I think this really speaks to how much the members in this community care for their animals, as well as the effectiveness of the use of permanent identification, such as a tattoo or a microchip.”
This is good news, but the influx of animals the shelter receives comes with a financial burden.
“A lot of medical expenses and animals requiring surgeries that are quite extensive – that’s been a big expense for us at the shelter this year,” Krapiec said. “It’s been very difficult.”
The annual Paws for a Cause fundraiser on Sept. 11 – which brought out more than 200 Coasters this year -– raised over $9,000, which will go towards the shelter’s annual operating budget. See photos from that event in our online galleries.
Krapiec was very pleased with the amount raised; she said they are aiming to raise a total of $19,000 and after the weekend fundraiser they are now sitting at over $17,000.
“I’m feeling pretty good about it, it’s really exciting,” Krapiec said. “We tend to see a little bit more trickling in over the days following our event. But I’m really excited about it, it’s a really wonderful total to be walking away with.”
You can still make a donation by going to www.bcspca.ca/walk and can donate directly to the Sunshine Coast branch of the BC SPCA by clicking on “locations” at the top of the page and finding the Sunshine Coast in the list of options. You can also donate in person or mail it in to 4376 Solar Rd, Sechelt, B.C. V0N3A1.
