The North East SPCA’s Harry and Eve Vickar Shelter was on the brink of closing in 2024, but they’re back on firm footing thanks to the Save Our Shelter campaign and other fundraisers.
The Melfort-based organization serves northeast Saskatchewan. NESPCA communications director Bill Wood said they began in the campaign in September 2024 and have since raised $80,000. Residents can still visit the organizations website at nespca.org to donate.
Wood said it was gratifying to have the organization back on solid ground.
“We’re glad we could do it,” he said. “We strongly believe that a shelter in Northeast Saskatchewan is needed. I wish there was more grants, a lot of people say you’ve got to hunt for grants and we do hunt for grants all the time, but there’s no grants for shelters in the province of Saskatchewan and I think it’s a real point of contention.”
Ideally, Woods aid he’d like to see all local SPCAs band together and lobby the province for support. Still, he’s pleased with what they were able to raise.
“We’re, very happy, thus far with the amount that we’ve raised, that’s for sure. It’s not dire anymore. We’ve raised enough to keep going and our campaign remains,” Wood said.
Wood said most donations were from individuals or small businesses, but there were some larger businesses that contributed. Wood said PetSmart in Prince Albert was a big donor, and Ripley Ford in Melfort raised nearly $3,000 through their Tails for Tires campaign.
The Harry and Eve Vickar Shelter remains open as long as funds come in. The Campaign will continue and individuals can donate thru mail, e-transfer and GoFundMe.
“Our GoFundMe page is doing well. It’s up to a little over $6,000 now,” Wood said.
The NESPCA also hosted a Gala around Christmas at the Kerry Vicker Centre and it raised roughly $12,500. Wood said another gala could be planned depending on volunteer availability. He thanked the people who donated to the silent auction table and draws.
“The shelter is open, it’s operational and … we look pretty good,” he said.
The Shelter and NESPCA has also been busy. In 2024, it took in 159 animals, 27 of which were returned to their owners. As well, 10 animals had to be euthanized due to advanced illness, and one due to level 2 aggression.
Currently there are 62 animals up for adoption, with 31 in the shelter, and 31 with foster families.
Wood also thanked all the veterinarians in the northeast for helping them. Wood said vets in Nipawin, Tisdale, and Melfort gave them a drastic reduction in fees for spraying and neutering.
He also thanked the PetSmart location in Prince Albert which takes many cats from the NESPCA. In 2024, they helped adopt out 27 cats, which accounted for 23 per cent of all total adoptions.
Wood said that everything seems to be going very well.
“We’re doing well and we look pretty good coming into summer,” he said. “In the summertime we always end up with barbecues, there’s summer events outside and we don’t have a lot of problem fundraising in the summertime.”
He explained that for most shelters in Saskatchewan the winter months until March are the most challenging in terms of fundraising.
Wood said one problem that does exist is a shortage of board members.
“The problem exists for many organizations in Prince Albert and surrounding area is that we have a shortage of board members and so if any board members want to join the North East SPCA, they can contact President Marianthe Strydom or myself and information is available on the website,” Wood said.
He added that they need working board members to help with fundraisers throughout the year.
“When you get down to brass tacks, the more people you have, the more money you can make that’s eventually what you can do,” Wood said.
michael.oleksyn@paherald.sk.ca
