The Humboldt and District SPCA is going to "Raise the Woof."
That's the name the association chose for its campaign to raise money for a new animal shelter.
At the HDSPCA, they do what they can with the space that they have. Right now the small building located on Hwy. 5 east houses 10 dogs and 28 cats. Ask any one of the workers, and they will tell you the shelter is already full to capacity, yet they anticipate an intake of more animals when the really cold weather hits.
"At least they're safe here with us," said Susan McInnes, a board member of the SPCA and a regular volunteer. McInnes was busy cleaning out the cats' cages in one corner of the shelter, while another volunteer was just coming back from walking one of the dogs.
McInnes took the tiniest black kitten out of a small cage and held it up in her hands.
"We may have someone for this little one," she said. "I'm hoping that they will come back for her."
The SPCA is offering a special deal for kittens right now, as a means to try and lower the number of animals in their facility.
"Some of the older ones have been with us far too long," McInnes said about the cats at the shelter, "but people generally tend to want the little ones."
Meows, purring, and various displays of character and personality came from the furry felines, who all seemed to crave a little affection, or a sniff of the hand, or just a little caress. One young cat up in the second floor cages looked quite comical as she tried to make herself noticed by clinging with all four paws to the wire of the cage.
"It would be a wonderful thing if some of these animals could even be fostered out before Christmas," McInnes said. "We're usually short on staff at that time of the year, and it's really difficult to get enough volunteers."
The problem the shelter faces now won't be solved with a new building - because there will always be animals abandoned or turned in - but the new space will have amenities that aren't available in the current space. The plans include an off-leash area for the dogs, and a park-like area where people can donate a memorial tree or a memorial bench.
HDSPCA vice-president Bonnie Hepp says everyone on the board, as well as the many volunteers, are excited about the proposed new space for the animal shelter. Sketches of the proposed project will be on display at the trade show, November 6 and 7 at the Uniplex in Humboldt.
"We will have a display that will show our current facilities, plus the drawings for the new one, plus pictures of many of the animals that have come through our shelter over the years," said Hepp.
So far, the SPCA has raised $106,000 toward the new facility, and they are just about to launch their "Raise the Woof" campaign for the additional $200- to $300,000 that will be needed.
Hepp says the new facility will be approximately 4,000 square feet and will be located on land adjacent to the property Canadian Tire is situated on, about one kilometre west of Humboldt.
Hepp recently stepped down as president at the association's annual general meeting when somebody came forward who was willing to take on the role.
"Michael Freeman came forward," said Hepp. "He has been a board member for about a year."
Passing the presidency on was both a sad moment and yet a relief, Hepp says, who will continue to give her time for the love of little critters.
