Spring has seen the number of animal rescues in the Okanagan spike from 25 to over 100 in just 10 days.
And that is just at the Okanagan Humane Society (OHS).
The valley-wide animal rescue is up to its ears in cats, kittens and dogs, but there is a chance to support its efforts Friday, May 10.
Scotiabank branches across the Okanagan are hosting a fundraising day in support of OHS with staff in all nine locations in the Okanagan, OHS volunteers and animal alumni receiving donated funds for local animals in need.
鈥淭his year has been extremely busy to date, and now we are entering kitten season with new rescues coming in every day,鈥� said Romany Runnalls, OHS president.
The need isn鈥檛 expected to ease, as she says the recent spike in rescues at the end of April are going to double in May and June.
鈥淲e are in need of foster homes and these funds could not have come at a better time to help save the lives of our local animals,鈥� she said, thrilled Scotiabank has chosen to support OHS.
The average cost per animal in OHS care is $300 and the society cared for more than 2,500 animals in 2023.
This year the society has already seen its Rescue Program requests double the need, and requests for access to spay and neuter assistance has tripled under their Pet Assistance Program.
This bountiful kitten season highlights and emphasizes the importance of spaying and neutering pets and community animals, which is the mandate OHS was founded on.
鈥淪paying and neutering are the simplest, most humane and cost effective preventative solutions to saving lives and ending the suffering of thousands of animals in our valley every year,鈥� said Runnalls. 鈥淚f we can stop the breeding, we can truly save lives and prevent the cruelty animals experience trying to survive alone outside, starving to death, suffering from exposure and dehydration, being taken by predators, or killed on the roads.鈥�
OHS partners with more than 30 veterinary clinics to offer access to more affordable assistance to the lowest income families facing financial barriers, and who qualify for support to get their pets fixed.
Scotiabank will be accepting donations at nine of their locations throughout the Okanagan Valley in Penticton, West 琉璃神社, 琉璃神社, Vernon, and Salmon Arm from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. this Friday.
鈥淲e are all animal lovers, so the team was excited to raise much needed funds for the Okanagan Humane Society,鈥� says Brayden Cook, Scotiabank branch manager.
OHS will have volunteers and animals stopping by Scotiabank locations for donors to meet and cuddle, including some kittens at the Village Green location in Vernon.
To support local animals and these upcoming large rescues, go to https://okanaganhumanesociety.com/scotiabank-fetching-funds/
OHS is a local charity that has been serving the Okanagan region for more than 27 years. They have spayed or neutered and treated more than 30,000 animals since 1996.
Programs include spay/neuter and medical help for pets of low-income families, rescue of lost, stray, abandoned or feral animals, medical emergency, pet adoptions, reuniting lost pets and people, and compassionate board. The organization takes a foster homebased approach to animal care with up to 200 animals in foster throughout the Okanagan Valley at any given time.
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