A tiny kitten tossed from the window of a speeding truck and starving homeless dogs cowering in abandoned barns and sheds are a reality pet shelters deal with regularly.
It is definitely a reality in Rimbey, said Melody Crehan who runs the Sylvan Lake & Area Serenity Pet Shelter Society, a registered charitable organization dedicated to the rescue of abandoned, abused or surrendered animals.
Crehan and Al Eliott from Bentley, who has a foster home for abandoned animals, made a presentation to council at its June 11 meeting to explain their operation and to ask for support.
“We have worked quietly in the Rimbey area performing such acts as rescuing kittens found in a cardboard box outside a local business in minus 30 degrees, rescuing cats hurled out of truck windows and helping numerous callers find a solution for their unwanted animals or animals that have been dumped on their property.
As well as Rimbey, the pet shelter answers calls for help from communities Bentley, Sylvan Lake, Eckville, Benalto, Bluffton, Red Deer and First Nations Communities.
“We have a foster home system until such time as we are able to raise enough funds to build a shelter. Rescued animals are taken to the vet for examination, and any necessary treatment, then to the groomers before being placed in their foster homes,” said Crehan.
The shelter also participates in the trap-neuter-return program for feral cats.
“Studies have proven that this program is the single most successful method of stabilizing and maintaining healthy feral cat colonies with the least possible cost to local governments and residents, while providing the best life for the animals themselves,” she said.
Stabilizing the population at manageable levels eliminates annoying behaviors associated with mating and is humane to the animals and fosters compassion in the neighborhoods.
It is also more effective and less costly than repeated attempts at extermination.
“Vacated areas are soon filled by other cats, who start the breeding process over again.”
Crehan said a pair of breeding cats can produce 420,000 offspring in seven years.
“This carries a hefty price tab for animal control and other cat related expenses. Many, many homeless cars are killed annually by euthanasia. The alternative is a violent end or slow, painful death. Many throwaways die mercilessly outdoors from starvation, disease, abuse or as food for a predator.”
Council made no commitment to financially support the pet shelter, but agreed to support the group in principle.
To become a volunteer or becoming a sponsor, make a monetary donation, apply to be a foster home or donate dog food, cat food, toys and other gifts email serenitypetshelter@hotmail.com or call 403-887-5053 or check out the website at www.SylvanLakeSerenityPetShelterSociety.com