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Animal Rescue Committee keeps dogs from being put down
Jewel L.R. Purves
Lakeside Leader
Dennise McIntyre is the Chair of the Animal Rescue Society and she knows exactly what’s going on. She was just about to start her day at Treatz R’ Uz but was more than happy to spend some time talking to the Lakeside Leader about the Animal Rescue Committee of Slave Lake.
“Basically over the past three years we’ve been actively trying to raise money to afford to either build a shelter or find a building that we could use here in town. We’ve been just doing a lot of fundraising and in the meantime our mandate is rescuing dogs from the pound here in town,” states McIntyre.
How it works at the Slave Lake pound is that dogs brought in have 72 hours after they are picked up to be retrieved by the owner.
If this doesn’t happen then the Animal Rescue goes in and puts them into foster care. From there the dogs get spayed or neutered, their shots, their vaccines for rabies ECT. Also deworming them is part of the deal. From there these dogs go into foster homes so they can be put up for adoption.
“Their stay (the dog) can be anywhere from a couple of days to up to a few months. We hang onto them until we find a good home for them,” allows McIntyre.
Some places do follow up visits; however due to the vast area that isn’t always possible, although it it’s easer if some one adopts here to follow up says McIntyre.
“Because we live in a rural community lots of times these dogs are adopted out to other cities such as Calgary, Edmonton and other places which makes it hard to follow up on. What we do is either contact you through e-mail or you call us with an update with pictures.”
There are a variety of dogs up for adoption right now. McIntyre told the Leader about three of them.
“One is a female two-and-a-half collie mix; she is spayed and has all her shots and is ready to go. She makes a really good outdoor dog, with all the hair. She also gets along well with other dogs but apparently she’s not too fond of cats. Bottom line, she loves to play and is very social.
“We have a male - he’s lab, shepherd, and rotweiler cross. He’s very sweet at about a year-and-a-half and is neutered and has all his shots and is ready to go now as well. He’s really good on a leash, loves to play with other dogs and is good with kids. We also have a female who is medium sized, weighing about 40 lbs. She is shorthaired collie mix who is a little timid, but seems to fit well into a home with kids, cats and other dogs. She doesn’t seem to care and she loves to cuddle. She would make a nice house dog.”
Up for adoption right now are nine dogs, which include some lab mix puppies. They will be at the Trade Show for viewing. They are seven weeks old and ready to go. Three have been spoken for, so it looks like they may go fast. There are four left for adoption plus the mother.”
Now if you want to adopt one of these dogs all you have to do is sign an adoption agreement that states that they will go through a trial period with the animal for three days.
After this time the person who is adopting calls and lets them know if everything is working out and if it is they keep the dog, if it’s not then they can bring the dog back. But it has to be with in the three-day time frame. This keeps the dog’s spot open in the foster home.
“This is only for short time periods, because a couple of years ago people were calling two three months later saying they didn’t want the dog and we sometime are full. We always check in 24 hours later to see how everything is working out. This way if there are questions or any problems we can help out.”
Since the Animal Rescue Committee of Slave Lake first started out in 2005 over 80 dogs have been rescued from the pound.
So far dogs are the only animals that are being rescued this is not to say they won’t in the future.
“Our goal is to find a place to foster cats and as for other animals we as of yet haven’t had any calls. Right now our main focus is to implement a shelter setting and possibly change our mandate. Two, to make a facility for cats, kittens especially during the winter months.”
The Animal Rescue Committee of Slave Lake works in conjunction with Athabasca Veterinary Clinic and High Prairie Veterinary Clinic. “Both of these clinics have been very good to us and helping us out, Dennise McIntyre was quick to say but added “Really it’s fundraising that is keeping this Animal Rescue Committee going.”
“We have our annual dog walk; this will happen Sunday June 1st, we’ve have a great turnout every year. After the five-kilometre walk we have a barbecue; pledge forms can be picked up at the trade show.
“In the fall we have a fashion show called Paws and Prada - this was very successful. Those are our two big ones.”
There is always a huge need for volunteers; currently there are about a dozen. However more are needed and if you would like to help out you can call Dennise McIntyre at Treatz R’ UZ at 849-3225.
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