The Sunshine Coast SPCA is looking for a few more pet lovers willing to take a turn behind bars to raise money for animals in care.
The local animal shelter is putting on their inaugural kennel lock-in fund-raiser next Saturday, Aug. 17, from noon to 2 p.m.
Participants will be locked in dog kennels and must canvass their friends, families and acquaintances to raise enough money to be released. The bond is set by the person behind bars as a fundraising target.
"A couple of the other branches have done it and it's been very successful," said local branch manager Cindy Krapiec.
The shelter relies on donations to care for the hundreds of animals they see each year.
"So of course our goal is obviously to bring in as much money as we can to enable us to be able to take care of as many animals as we can," Krapiec said.The lock-in has a few participants already signed up, but more are needed to make it a successful event.
"We're canvassing local animal-based businesses and veterinary clinics right now, but we're still looking for more people to take part," Krapiec said. "There's a couple of different roles that people could do. They could be locked in a kennel with friends if they don't want to do it alone, or if they just want to come down and donate to the release of one of the kennel participants then they're more than welcome to come down and they can actually visit in the kennels and see who's in there."
People can sign up for the lock-in or get more information about it by calling the shelter at 604-740-0301.
The public is also invited to come to the shelter at 4376 Solar Rd. next Saturday to see the participants and give to their release. All of the money raised will be used to care for animals at the Sunshine Coast SPCA.
Rocko update
Last week Coast Reporter told you about Rocko, a five-year-old Lab-mix dog that needed surgery on his hind legs to walk without pain. The surgery cost $6,000 and the SPCA was asking the public for donations to make it possible.
"We have just been blown away at the response," Krapiec said on Aug. 6, adding many locals and some off-Coast animal lovers had given to Rocko's surgery fund. "I haven't added it up today, but as of two days ago we had raised over $8,000. It's unbelievable, and we still have people donating."
She said some of the extra money would be used to pay for Rocko's medications and that if any funds remain they would go into the medical budget for other animals in need.
Rocko is now in foster care awaiting surgery. Krapiec said there are a few families interested in adopting him.
