With some 320 animals in care, the Cochrane and Area Humane Society (CAHS) is brimming with four-legged friends looking for their fur-ever homes.
"This is the most animals we have had in our care," said Janaia Hutzal, communications coordinator for the shelter. "We have lots of kittens ... so we are really encouraging people to spay and neuter their animals."
As well as promoting responsible animal care, the shelter is on the lookout for more foster families – which serves to alleviate capacity pressures, as a new facility is not planned for the near future.
"We're keeping an eye open for opportunties to grow, but nothing has come into play yet," said Hutzal, with respect to future facility expansion. "That's one of the reasons why we're encouraging foster homes."
With expanded intake programs in the City of Airdrie and rural Saskatchewan, foster care support helps to alleviate the mounting pressures on the facility so they can continue to not turn away any animal. Airdrie, a city of twice Cochrane's size, does not have its own shelter program, but does have home-based rescue services.
Three-month-old Simon is one of the recent intakes hailing from rural Saskatchewan, arriving at the local shelter worse for wear – including a bad case of mange that he has now recovered from. Sponsored by Pet Value Cochrane, the Rural Rescue and Support Program is a partnership between CAHS and the Canine Action Project, which is a registered society that assists with animal health in First Nations communities. The Cochrane shelter team takes monthly trips to Saskatchewan to bring back puppies and dogs in need of homes.
Hutzal said this season's particularly high intake highlights the value in foster families.
"We have the most amazing foster homes and we always try and find the homes that are suitable," she explained, adding that fostering is a great opportunity for animal lovers who aren't able to own a pet year-round – such as snowbirds or competitive athletes in their off season.
The recent headline sensation the "clubhouse pup" is an example of community fostering at its finest.
The four-month-old pup, whose name will be announced on Aug. 3, is a joint fostering initiative by Cochrane realtor Kendra Watt and the Calgary Stampeders.
The pup, who has evidence of deformity in all its four legs and paws, will be kept in foster care throughout the football season, hopefully available for adoption after the 2019 Grey Cup.
"This is new to us and new to the Stampeders," laughed Hutzal, adding that Watt has been the ultimate foster mom as the pup's primary caregiver and taking him to Stampeder practices.
"It just brings awareness to the idea that every animal deserves a chance and how important it is to foster," she added.
Recent donations
The community keeps on giving, where the shelter is concerned.
Just this week, Global Pet Foods delivered a cheque for $4,312.92 from its annual Show Us Your Heart campaign that was held in February.
"It's because we just love animals ... it's a no-brainer," said Global owner Christine Sharman on the local pet store's support for the shelter.
Pet Valu also made a sizable donation of $2,419.
“As part of our ongoing commitment to helping local pets in need, we sold paper PAWS for the month of April with 100 per cent of the proceeds going to Cochrane Humane Society and Almost Home Canine Rescue," explained Pet Valu owner Sylvia Penner.
"April is our Pet Appreciation Month, so each year we raise awareness of the local rescues in our community and do what we can to help them. This year we held a big carnival-themed event, and collected just over $7,000 in cash and food donations."
Last month's grand opening of Smitty's Restaurant generated $1,820.50 for the shelter, as well.
To learn more visit cochranehumane.ca.
