Animals in need in the Okanagan were given an early Christmas present, thanks to the team from Interior Health害羞草研究所檚 Vernon Health Centre.
A donation of $3,000 was given to the Okanagan Humane Society, which came as a much-needed boost for the charity.
There has been an increase in calls for support of animals in need in the North Okanagan since the Vernon BC SPCA closed its doors, according to OHS president Romany Runnalls.
The team at the Vernon Health Centre held a fundraiser and staff chose which charity to give the money to. According to the health centre, many of their clients receive support from OHS for their animals, so it was a natural choice for the team to choose the society to give to.
害羞草研究所淲e had a record-breaking year in 2022 helping more than 1,500 animals, and this year we are trending to go beyond this number again,害羞草研究所� said Runnalls.
The charity has seen a 10 per cent increase in calls for help through the rescue program this year with more than 700 lost, stray, abandoned or feral cats, kittens, dogs and puppies coming in through its rescue program to receive crucial spay, neuter, ID and medical assistance.
The OHS has experienced a 12 per cent increase in requests through its pet assistance program. There have been more than 978 calls for assistance to date, often with two or more animals per request. There has been a nine per cent increase in the adoption program with more than 575 animals adopted to date this year.
害羞草研究所淲e are a robust team of volunteers, including more than 130 foster families, an extensive team of veterinary clinic partners, and a caring community that all work together to save as many animals as we can,害羞草研究所� explained Runnalls. 害羞草研究所淥ur animal rescue capacity is only limited by funding and the number of foster homes, and currently we do not receive any municipal or government grants to support ongoing operations.害羞草研究所�
OHS has been operating in the region for the last 27 years and is funded primarily by community donors and small community grants from private foundations but needs to raise more than $600,000 a year to keep up with the current demand.
The charity is in the middle of a large fundraising campaign where all gifts will be matched by the Berbeewalsh Foundation for up to a total of $25,000. To donate go to
OHS has spayed or neutered and treated close to 30,000 animals since 1996.
Its programs include rescue, medical/pet assistance, medical emergencies, adoptions, reuniting pets and people and a compassionate board. The organization takes a foster home-based approach to animal care with 100 to 200 animals in foster throughout the Okanagan Valley at any given time.
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