Alix-based Saving Grace Animal Society is looking for volunteers.
In a year-end interview, Amanda McClughan, one of two executive directors for the organization, said that getting enough volunteers to operate is a challenge due to the rural location.
“We always struggle to get volunteers,” said McClughan.
“We always need volunteers.”
Mclughan says that the volunteers are needed to interact with the animals and to help out.
She notes that the rescue uses “minimal” staff as dollars directed towards paid staff are directed away from the animals. With the minimal staff, she notes, they “don’t have time to spend one-on-one with the animals.”
If people want to volunteer, McClughan says they can stop by the facility between 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day or message Saving Grace on Facebook.
Saving Grace has around 400 animals in care, split between the shelter and foster care, and with the recent closure of Animal Haven Rescue Society, the pressure has only increased.
“We have seen a bit of an impact,” said McClughan.
“Moreso on the cat side … in the counties, we are technically the closest rescue, so the calls are coming to us.”
McClughan notes that one positive for Stettler is the fact that it has a cat bylaw. Because of the bylaw, strays are picked up and taken into care by Alberta Animal Services, who then transfer the animals to suitable rescues.
“75 per cent of our transfers are from them.”
With Saving Grace being the nearest animal rescue in the region, McClughan says the organization is getting more emergency calls.
She recounted that seven adult cats were recently found on the side of the highway near Stettler, each with different medical issues. With fewer rescues, and space in them at a premium, McLughan says that they are seeing more cases of people dumping animals.
“People are just desperate with the shelters so full,” said McClughan.
“Any time a shelter in our area closes it’s harder because you have to take those animals on.”
McClughan says that in an effort to get more animals moving through the rescue, adoption fees have recently been lowered, but even then the dog runs are being refilled within 24 hours of a dog being adopted.
“We’ve had to discount our adoption fees to help get those animals in homes because we can’t hold on to them any longer,” said McClughan.
Still, it’s not all bad news. Saving Grace completed the second phase of its veterinary clinic build in the fall, and is currently fundraising and looking for corporate partners to get phase three underway.
According to McClughan, the clinic will “help out the shelter aspect so much” as they will be able to provide veterinary care in-house, reducing the need for transporting animals around the region.
Another positive for the rescue is December’s fundraising. McClughan says that while October and November were “pretty tough months” for the rescue, December set the rescue up to get through the usual January lull.
For those interested in volunteering at the rescue, or adding a furry family member, contact Saving Grace Animal Society on Facebook for a full listing and bio of animals available for adoption.