From Princeton to Osoyoos to Salmon Arm, right across the valley the Okanagan Humane Society is seeing an unprecedented influx of animals after surviving the most challenging summer rescue season in more than 27 years.
The organization is projected to help more than 4,000 animals this year between both of its key programs, a 35 per cent increase from the previous year, said OHS president Romany Runnalls.
“Our volunteers are responding daily to calls about animals that are found stray or abandoned,” explained Runnalls. “The circumstances can vary and are sometimes really unfortunate and disturbing, but no matter what, we take the call, seven days a week.”
With the increase in requests for help, OHS also surpassed its’ adoption record in July when it found adoptive homes for more than 100 animals and has continued to exceed 100 adoptions month-over-month since.
“It’s looking like this is our new normal,” said Runnalls.
The charity is primarily volunteer-run but does partner with more than 20 veterinary hospitals throughout the Okanagan Valley, and relies on volunteer foster families to house their animals as opposed to a shelter.
“We work directly with our community when an animal is reported to us, to get them brought into our veterinary partner clinics immediately for a vet check, vaccinations, deworming, spay/neuter and permanent identification before they go to a foster home, and then move through our adoption program,” said Runnalls.
The organization believes that inflation and a housing crisis are part of the reason that requests for medical care have increased along with reports of abandoned animals.
“The cost of everything has risen, and pet-friendly housing is hard to come by, so while many animals are simply being left outside or left behind, we’re also getting requests to help from pet owners who are low income and are finding they can’t afford basic veterinary care, let alone an unexpected emergency,” said Runnalls.
An average day at OHS involves at least a dozen new requests for help, said Runnalls, with rescuing a stray animal, or for spay/neuter and emergency medical assistance, which they are able to provide through the pet assistance program.
This week the organization took in more than two dozen homeless animals and helped several low-income pet owners gain access to life-saving medical care for their animals, including a cat that was suffering from feline infectious peritonitis, a disease which is almost always fatal if left untreated.
“This one-year-old cat came to us in critical condition and we really weren’t sure if she would make it,” explained Runnalls. “Because we were able to respond immediately and coordinate with one of our veterinary partners, she was able to get medication that saved her life, and that’s why we do what we do. We save lives.”
As a foster-based organization, OHS’ only limitations are foster homes and funding.
“As long as we have both of these, we can keep picking up the phone and saying yes to animals in our communities every single day,” said Runnalls.
In order to help more animals across the valley OHS has launched its annual fundraising campaign, Angels for Animals, and hopes to raise crucial funds for medical care.
“This year since our need has increased so significantly, four donors stepped up to offer a $100,000 match, so we’re aiming to raise a total of $200,000 to help more animals and keep doing what we’re doing,” says Marni Adams the fund development specialist.
The average cost of care per animal at OHS is $300. Reaching this milestone would mean that the organization could guarantee help for more than 650 animals.
“Funds raised from this campaign will go directly to medical care, which is essential right now as we head into colder weather, we’re anticipating an increase in urgent rescues,” said Runnalls.
To donate to the match campaign and save twice the lives, you can go to https://okanaganhumanesociety.com/angels-for-animals.
