I spent three hours Tuesday locked up in a dog cage at the Battlefords Animal Shelter.
The Battlefords Humane Society Shelter Us campaign was hosting their second annual jail and bail event.
Nine of us huddled up in the cages and waged our various campaigns to raise money for the building of a new shelter building. In some ways the experience was an eye-opener to me.
I was able to observe up close and personal the passion shelter employees and volunteers have for the work they do. They spoke of the animals they house with affection and familiarity, giving the impression these aren’t just animals that get fed and watered each day. They are animals who are given attention and affection on a regular basis.
It is obvious they do their very best for each and every animal in their care and work diligently to keep them safe, warm and free of illness and disease.
It’s a job they are doing in a building that is truly showing its age. The 27-year-old structure is in dire need of replacement. The ventilation system is no longer strong enough and the building itself isn’t large enough to house the number of animals the shelter takes in.
Congratulations to the folks of Battlefords and area who supported the jail and bail fundraiser. With a rough final total of $13,000 raised the organization has taken another step toward their goal.
They still have a long way to go with that total added to the approximately $400,000 that has been saved. There is still another $1.5 to $2 million still be raised so construction of the new building can begin.
The Battlefords Humane Society needs and deserves your support as their Shelter Us campaign continues.
