the pawprint

Page 1
THE PAWPRINT
Issue 66
Shuswap Branch
November 2014
High Paws for our media supporters
This year we have had a lot of support from local media in getting out the messages on the things
that are important to the work of Shuswap Branch. Special thanks to Tidbits of the Shuswap for
the regular “Adoptables” ad they do for us. Additionally, our thanks to Rona for the “Adopt-a-Pet”
item they have been featuring in their advertisements. And our thanks for the help of the Salmon
Arm Observer and E Z Rock Radio for the advertising for the Paws Walk and other fund raisers
as well as the coverage of branch events in the community. We appreciate Lakeshore News and
the Observer for printing our news releases and including some of the “filler” ads the Provincial
Office provides for those occasions when there is an available spot in the advertising sections. As
well, we appreciate the opportunity provided by CKVS Community Radio for a Pet Report when
we inform the public of the many animal welfare issues we are dealing with.
...Janet Pattinson
Advocating for the Animals
The Branch Community Council has plans in place for
advocacy in the coming year. The Strategic Plan for the
BC SPCA has a major focus on cat overpopulation. For
several years February has been the month when we
have focused attention on the need for spay or neuter of
pets, especially cats.
Additionally, the plan calls for attention to the need for pet
identification. It is especially distressing to have animals
arrive at the shelter that obviously have belonged to a
family but have no identification. With identification they
could be reunited with that family. One of the goals of the
plan is to increase the percentage of lost animals that are
reunited with their guardians. In March of 2015 we will
have a special campaign on this topic but it will also be
included in the Pet Reports throughout the year.
A third topic for this year is pet friendly housing. Many
animals are surrendered to SPCA shelters by people who
are moving into rental or condominium accommodation
and are not allowed to have their pets. The BC SPCA has
advice for both landlords and tenants on its website. This
is a topic our branch will include in Pet Reports on CKVS
Community Radio. You can hear our reports on 93.7 fm
during Community Hour at 6 p.m. on Friday and at noon
on Monday.
...Janet Pattinson
BC SPCA - Shuswap Branch
5850 Auto Rd. SE
Salmon Arm, BC V1E 2X2
Phone: (250) 832-7376
Fax:
(250) 832-7307
Email: Shuswap@spca.bc.ca
Office Hours:
Tues. - Fri. Noon - 4 pm
Visiting / Adoption Hours:
Tues. - Sat. Noon - 4 pm
Emergency Phone (injured cats/
dogs):
(250) 803-1195
www.spca.bc.ca/branches/
shuswap
Page 2
ISSUE 66
A PLAN IN PLACE …….with Branch Manager Shelly Hand
Now eight months into her position, Shuswap BC SPCA Branch Manager Shelly Hand has
attended two training sessions at the Coast and six local fundraising events, with more yet to
come before the year is out.
As well, the Society recently produced a new Strategic Plan for 2014 - 2018; and then set the
task for branches to also create their own related four year Strategic Plan with a listing of key
priorities for implementation. Shelly has put a plan in place and laid the gauntlet down too! It will be
a challenging but inspirational next four years at the Shuswap BC SPCA; ones that will demand
support from staff and volunteers, as well as from the city and district councils, veterinarians, and
community members from all regions of the warrant area.
One of Shelly's most ambitious goals is a three pronged educational program that will be
integral to receiving fewer surrendered animals for behavioral reasons. Firstly, to give staff more
expertise in animal behavior and welfare so that they can more accurately assess animals that
enter the facility, as well as to furnish staff with more specific skills for handling and training those
animals. Secondly, to increase knowledge in adoption centre volunteers and animal foster care
homes in order for them to also provide more therapy and training to stressed or abused animals.
Finally, for the adoption centre to be available to help adopting families with any information or
skills that may be needed to better care for a newly acquired pet.
Another key priority is to assist low income households, so that they never have to surrender a
pet for any financial reason. This is to be accomplished with cost reduced spay/neuter
campaigns and vet care, as well as the implementation of a local animal food bank ...the latter of
which already began this Fall with The Kibble Kupboard program at Second Harvest. Each
Friday, Second Harvest Food Bank clients are able to also pick up a little extra food for their cats
and dogs. Shelly is especially proud that the branch has been able to quickly install The Kibble
Kupboard as a regular feature at Second Harvest and she hopes that as more people hear about
it, that it will become an even more popular avenue for pet food donations.
Another goal of our Strategic Plan, is to investigate how more lost pets can be returned to their
guardians through wider acceptance of pet identification, especially in cats where it is not
sufficiently practiced in our region.
Cat overpopulation, both within the home and in feral cat colonies, needs to be addressed in the
years going forward: through education, and the location and management of feral cats with spay/
neuter programs, including catch and release. Cat overpopulation, whether in or out of the home, is
not only a SPCA issue. It is a community one that requires community engagement if it is to
ameliorate. Addressing cat overpopulation and the necessary community participation is one of
the Shuswap BC SPCA's most important objectives in this next four years.
Finally, it is Shelly's determination that the Shuswap Branch be a leader in animal welfare knowledge
and through its resources, initiatives and actions ....more animals truly remain in their home,
forever.
….Muriel Schubert
2015 AGM
The BC SPCA Shuswap Branch will be holding its AGM on Sunday, March 29th, 2015 at 2:00pm in Room 1 of the
SASCU Recreation Centre. This is the time when we look back and celebrate all we have achieved in the past year as
well as plan what we hope to accomplish over the next 12 months. It is also an opportunity for our members to let
us know what concerns them so that we can take these issues to the Board.
Please make a note of the date and plan to join us.
ISSUE 66
Page 3
From the Chair
Another busy summer for the Shuswap Branch of the BC SPCA saw your Community Council and the
Shelter staff involved in various fund-raising, advocacy and humane education activities. Following our
own AGM in March, I attended the Provincial AGM in Vancouver together with Janet Pattinson who
attended as a member of the Membership Committee. The day before the actual AGM we were involved
in several educational/information sessions with the staff members in which they shared the goals and
objectives of their various departments and provided us with the opportunity to ask questions and
discuss many issues. Much of the discussion centred around the new 5 year Strategic Plan and its
implementation by the different departments. The issue of membership also generated considerable
discussion. The Society is, essentially, member-driven and, as such, depends on its members not only for
their monetary dues but also as a source of feedback to the Board on issues of animal welfare.
Members may elect to become more involved in the Society by joining their local Community Council
and/or committees or may prefer to take a more back-seat approach. Whichever you choose, we value
your membership and ask that you take this time to renew your own membership and perhaps persuade
a relative, friend or neighbour to sign up as well.
There were several fund-raising events held through the year with the main one being our annual Paws
for a Cause Walk held in conjunction with the Fall Fair Parade. The BC SPCA receives no funding from
the Federal or Provincial Governments so these fund-raising events are very important to the continued
operation of the Society. Thank you to all those who have supported us through the year. All donations
are gratefully received and there are many different ways in which you can contribute from making
monthly or one-time gifts, to contributing to one of our funds at the Shuswap Community Foundation
or by buying gas/propane at the Co-op and using the SPCA # 100150. (We received a dividend of $4450
from the Co-op this year). Celia Harris held her very popular Book Sale this past weekend and raised an
impressive $2700. Our thanks go to Celia for her many hours of sorting and categorizing and also to
Wayne Harris, Fay Krebs, Kathy Siemens, Mary Young, Ian Watts, Judy Harries, Gene Dodds, Constance
Ladell, Lorne and Brenda Porteous, the Mennonite Youth Club, Cathy and Beth of “Hidden Gems” and
all those who donated quality books.
Our Humane Education team of Evelyn Greenius, Julie Bose and Janet Pattinson have continued to take
the SPCA programs to local schools and libraries and I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge
the huge amount of time this takes and thank them for their invaluable contribution. Also, many thanks
to the other members of the Community Council – Tina Cosman, Celia Harris, Constance Ladell,
Candace Mitzell and Muriel Schubert for all the hours they contribute to promoting the aims of the BC
SPCA.
Our AGM will be held on Sunday, March 29th 2015 at 2:00 p.m. in Room 1 of the SASCU Recreation
Centre. This is your chance to learn more about your Society as well as giving your feedback about your
concerns. It is some time away but please take a moment to flip ahead on your calendar and mark the
date down now!
Judith Hutchins, Chair.
Watch for our volunteers in the Mall at
Piccadilly on December 12th and
19th. We’ll be there for membership
renewal, product sales and promoting
the cause of Animal Welfare.
ISSUE 66
Page 4
Shuswap Branch Shelter Report
Wow I have been Branch Manager now for 8 months, where does time fly. It has been both challenging and
rewarding. I have gone home feeling great and excited about the outcome of an adoption to going home
crying trying to understand how some people can treat their animals so poorly. I can't understand sometimes
how my staff have been doing this for so long and stay sane. They truly are amazing people and it takes a
special person to do what they do, so I have to say thank you to them.
The one project that I wanted to work on was renovating the grooming room so that we would have a light
filled and inviting area for people to come into and to work in. There are still things that need to be finished
but we have had a lot of compliments so far. We also were very fortunate to have received a grant in the sum
of $2500 to help out. The one other project that I have been very passionate about is the "Kibble
Kupboard". With Judith Hutchins help we are at the 2nd Harvest food bank each Friday from 11:30- 2:00
pm handing out small amounts of cat and dog food to the folks that are struggling to feed themselves and their
pets. We recognize that sometimes life throws rocks at us and we get weighted down, and it just takes a
friendly smile and a small bag of food to help that person care for their animal until next payday.
On average between foster and being physically in the shelter we have been housing around 100 animals,
mostly cats of course and what a long cat season it has been. We have participated in 3 cruelty cases so far
which brought in anywhere from 8 animals to 20+ at one time. With the number of cats/kittens that come in I
truly see a real need for developing a spay/neuter and identification plan. This is one of the initiatives that
we will be striving for in the next 5 years with the new Strategic Plan. Next year we will be working on
collecting data on where and how many animals are in our feral colonies. Getting back to building
relationships with the veterinarians to help with spay/neuter and identification clinics. Educating people to
change their way of thinking that this is a SPCA problem to this is OUR problem as a community and we need to
work together to solve it.
Paws for a Cause walk brought in more than the estimated amount this year and so did the book sale. Thank
you to Janet, Celia and their volunteers in making these 2 events so successful. We have also had some great
3rd party fundraisers, The Stomp, Buckerfields Appreciation day, Shaw's BBQ, Xcalibur Car Wash and the
Comic Strippers 50/50 draw. We finish the year with Raise the Woof in November, it is going to be a fun
time and hopefully we can make it an annual event.
I am looking forward to working with the staff and volunteers in the next year to develop new programs and
working on the success of the ones that are in place.
Thank you
Shelly Hand
Branch Manager
BC SPCA Shuswap Branch
5850 Auto Road SE
Salmon Arm, BC V1E 2X2
Shelter: 250-832-7376 Cell: 250-803-1195
mailto: shand@spca.bc.ca • spca.bc.ca/salmon arm
In the past six
months the
Shuswap Branch of
the BC SPCA
received donations
in memory of the
following:
Darryl Hoover
“Duke”
“Petrie”
“Puddin”
“Lady Lou”
Dona McBain
Robert Smallpiece
Bruce Campbell
Jim Scales
Contributions to the Pawprint: please send your articles to
Hilary Graham at soccerhil@hotmail.com, or drop off a
printed copy at the Shuswap Shelter. We’d love to hear from
you!
ISSUE 66
Page 5
Scotiabank & BC SPCA Paws for a Cause... Walk to
end Animal Cruelty
This year the provincial focus for the Walk was on the
issue of animal cruelty. Shuswap Branch was again fully
engaged and raised about $24,000 by event day. Given
the size of our community this is an excellent result.
We are especially appreciative of those who collected
money for the animals. The top team for Shuswap
Branch was SASCU. The top ten participants collecting
money were: Dee Ferguson, Pat Lagimodiere, Chantel
Jeffrey, Anne Casey, Annemieke Loohuizen, Helen
Lu, Judi Klick, Merridy McDonald, Angie Morley and
Shirley Robillard.
Many thanks to our 2014 Paws for a
Cause Sponsors and Friends of the
Animals:
EZ Rock 91.5 fm
Integrity Roofing
Salmon Arm Observer
Tina Cosman RE/MAX Shuswap
Jacobson Ford
Askew’s Foods
Hilltop Toyota
Home Building Centre
Munro’s Sorrento Prescriptions
Old Dog New Tricks
Shuswap Lake Estates Golf & Country Club
Touch ‘A Texas
The Cosman family carried the banner in the Walk
Our thanks to those who are
sponsoring cat or dog kennels
in our shelter:
Pat and Gary Lagimodiere
John Pattinson
Nel and Gordon Peach
Steve Philibert
Michelle Reed
Humane Education
Our Humane Educators are ready to make
presentations to classes in School District #83 and
independent schools in our area. The favourite topics
during the spring were “Bite Free”, which shows the
children how to avoid dog bites; “Kindness Counts”,
which fits with the curriculum focus on developing
empathy; and “Caring for the Animals in the Wild”.
This last topic responds to the interest of our
community in wildlife.
During the summer Evelyn travelled around the lake
to Magna Bay to make presentations to two groups of
campers at Camp Grafton. We anticipate being in
contact with the summer camps and regional library as
well as the schools.
… Janet Pattinson
Page 6
ISSUE 66
It’s been sometime since we provided you with a report on the membership. Unfortunately our
membership is at an all time low with only about 30% of the regular members from 2013 renewed in
2014. As a courtesy we have been providing the Pawprint to inactive members for some time. This
Pawprint is going out to all those who have renewed in 2014 as well as those who have not renewed
from 2012 and 2013. However, due to the rising cost of postage and paper we will not be able to
continue to do this indefinitely and we would really appreciate it if more of you could renew for 2015.
Don’t forget the other ways you can help support – by donating your Canadian Tire money, stopping at
the Co-op for purchases/fuel and providing them with the SPCA Co-op #(100150), and donating items
to the shelter. Also the food donated to the Kibble Cupboard for the Second Harvest folks who
have pets is a great outreach as well. Thank you for your support in the past and the future.
..Annemieke Loohuizon
Membership is limited to a one year term (Lifetime Membership excepted) ending December
31st, renewable annually beginning in October ( or from October for the following year for new
members) and upon payment of the requisite dues. I agree to uphold the aims and vision of the
Society as outlined in the Charter, guiding principles, beliefs and service strategy; to uphold the
Constitution of the Society and to comply with the BC SPCA Bylaws and Code of Ethics; to raise
questions and concerns using the appropriate internal channels within the Society such as
through local Branch Managers, Community Councils or the Board of Directors.
YES! I want to renew/begin my membership in the Shuswap Branch BCSPCA.
Date: ______________________
My Membership category:
Individual $30 _______
I would like to become a Life Member $350 ________
I would like to take this opportunity to add a Donation of $__________
Total for my cheque $______
Credit card (VISA, MasterCard, AMEX)
Card # _____________________ Expiry __________
(If you use a credit card to renew we will be calling you for the 3 digit CVV # on the back of your card in order to
validate the charge)
Member Name _____________________________
Phone number
___________________
Mailing Address _________________________________________________
I would like to receive the Pawprint by e-mail Yes____
No _____.
My e-mail address is ________________________________________________
Do you want a membership card Yes____
No _____.
Mail to: BCSPCA SHUSWAP BRANCH,5850 Auto Road SE, Salmon Arm, BC V1E 2X2