Homeless animals find shelter
Jennifer Platts

Sick, hurt and abandoned animals arrive daily looking to be saved by the Humane Society, says executive director Heather Irving.

On average, about 60 animals are brought in each week. It's not uncommon for 15-20 animals to be dropped off a day.

The shelter is open six days a week.

When animals arrive they are assessed and examined to find out if they meet the requirements needed to enter the adoption program. If accepted, there is no time limit on when they must be bought, unless they get sick or get kennel fever.

"It's at that point we're concerned about the temperament of the animal," said Irving.

Animals which don't make the program are assessed for as long as possible to be sure. If they are clearly unable to be adopted, they are euthanized in the most humane way, said Irving.

"We have a responsibility to be careful which animals we allow to be adopted," said Irving.

"There is always a mixture of feelings. It's never a decision taken lightly. It's always made in the best interest of the animal.

"If it's sick or injured we can give it relief. If it's an animal that is dangerous, I'm relieved for community safety. I wouldn't want a child to be hurt. Animals that are bad are that way because they were treated badly. In a perfect world, we would be able to rehabilitate animals for temperament and sickness."

Baby animals born healthy go into the adoption program when they're eight weeks old. The mother is spayed or neutered, then they're placed in the program too, says Irving. There is now a litter of puppies in the program.

It costs $58 to adopt a cat, $85 for a dog plus the cost of an I.D. tag depending on where you live.

Vouchers are provided, $30 for a cat and $60 for a dog, to have them spayed or neutered.

The cost of leaving pets is $15 for dogs, $10 for cats, $7 for puppies and $5 for kittens.

The Humane Society is funded by shelter receipts, the fees for services and the generosity of Islanders concerned about animals.

They also relied on charitable donations. They don't receive any government money.

The shelter accepts other types of animals, including rats, rabbits, gerbils, budgies and parrots.

They can take more exotic animals, but the facility isn't equipped to hold them for long and they are sent to a more suitable place.

There is only one Humane Society on the Island.

There are 15-20 in the Maritimes and about 200 in Canada, Irving said.

Irving has two dogs, one from the shelter. She has also adopted a stray cat.

She has been at the shelter for four years and been involved in animal welfare for several years.