Our dog Samson was adopted from the TBDHS
by Michelle McChristie
The Board of Directors of the Thunder Bay & District Humane Society (THDHS) has announced that the shelter is scheduled to close on December 31, 2011. Simply put, the TBDHS is cash-strapped and cannot cover their operating expenses—their current shortfall is $15,000 per month or $180,000 for the year.
The TBDHS is a non-profit organization and does not receive regular funding from the government or the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (OSPCA). Under their Pre-authorized Debit Donation Plan, donors can help keep the doors open for as little as $10 a month (1,500 donors can make this happen!). Donations of any amount are vital to their continued service to the vulnerable animals in our community.
For 14 years, the TBDHS has provided shelter to unwanted, abandoned, abused and/or neglected animals. They have taken-in 365 animals in the past 12 months and have found homes for 360 of those. Most importantly, the TBDHS does not euthanize animals to “make space†for new animals—they almost always work at full capacity and work hard to find homes for the animals. They also investigate an average of 50 curelty/neglect complaints PER MONTH, which is the highest average in the province. The loss of the shelter and investigative services will be a severe blow to the cause of animal welfare in our city and district.
Our family adopted our dog, Samson, from the TBDHS. He was brought there as an unwanted puppy and we felt lucky to have found him. The TBDHS saved him from possible abandonment and we have the best dog ever. We’ve vowed that all of our dogs will come from the TBDHS and know that the generous people of Thunder Bay will step up, open their wallets and provide the TBDHS with the ongoing funding they need.
I would love to help and donate $10 p/mos!