With the Greater Moncton SPCA in dire need of being replaced, they are relying on donations from the public more than ever.
The cold winter days have been especially hard on the shelter because of a lack of insulation, and they are struggling to keep the animals warm..
Executive Director Dave Rogers says without the generosity of the public, it would be that much harder for them to survive, “We receive donations from right across North America, and we depend on that. Whether it is a cash donation, or if they bring in litter or food or old blankets, sheets, or towels, we use them for bedding. That’s how we survive each year, with the goodness of people. When people bring in two or three bags of non-clumping litter or cat or dog food, that’s less that I have to buy. That keeps those costs down for us.”
The shelter recently put out a plea for body heat pads for the kittens, because they are not warm enough in their enclosures. The extreme cold has put a major stress on the shelter, and it is very hard to heat.
Their hope is to launch a fundraising campaign this year to promote a new shelter they hope to open in 2019. The shelter has a pricetag of around $5.8 million, but they received a sizeable bequest from someone who passed away recently of around one million, and that has kickstarted the campaign.
Rogers says their intention is to approach the provincial and federal governments as well to assist with funds, “We approached the City of Moncton and Dieppe, and the Town of Riverview. The City of Moncton is going to provide $375,000 towards their project for a new shelter. But we have yet to hear back from Dieppe and from Riverview.”
