Chelsey Mutter The Okanagan Humane Society is on track to treat 4,000 animals this year — double the amount it helped last year. OHS is raising the alarm after 50 animals were rescued from the Vernon area in the past two weeks. Volunteer president Romany Runnalls said the society is in crisis mode.
“This rescue season, spring, summer so far have been like none we've ever seen before. It's been really, honestly, relentless. The number of animals in the communities just is more than we've ever had to deal with in the past,” Runnalls said.
“I know it's not a new story. It's just one that we just can't believe just keeps on going at this pace.” She says the uptick is across all of the Okanagan, especially in Vernon, Oliver and Osoyoos.
A lot of different variables contribute to the increase in strays and abandoned animals, but Runnalls said post COVID-19 inflation continues to be a major contributing factor. When people can’t afford to spay and neuter their animals, it can cause populations to explode. Runnalls urged people to get their animals spayed and neutered as quickly as possible.
People who can’t afford the vet cost could try asking vets to negotiate the price as she said vets "need your business as well." OHS is looking for public help amid the increased animals needing care, something the society doesn’t like to do very often. “We're at a point where we have over 300 animals in care, we're adopting out 100 animals a month or so, which is phenomenal,” Runnalls said.
“But as soon as they're being adopted out, we're needing to fill those foster homes again with more animals.” OHS is always looking for a steady stream of volunteers to foster animals. Currently, the group has 120 foster homes registered and running.
“We do need more foster homes, and it's a beautiful setting for the animals to be in. They're not stuck in a cage, they're not stuck in a kennel, they get to be loved in a home and socialized,” Runnalls said. She added helping animals is a community effort.
People who see animals in need are encouraged to secure the animals in a laundry room or guest room and then call OHS. The society also needs a way to continue to pay for the care it provides animals. OHS receives support from community foundations throughout the Okanagan, but with the large amount of animals coming in, the group says it could use extra support.
“It's really just doubled and gone beyond what we thought it would be for the year. And so we need to keep pace with that as best we can,” said Runnalls. “We can't save them all, but we're sure trying.
” People interested in volunteering or donating can visit the Okanagan Humane Society’s website..
