Swift Current SPCA kicks off $19 for ’19 appeal
With about a 20 per cent increase in pets served from 2017 to 2018, the Swift Current SPCA’S is looking for the area’s support to help care for even more pets in 2019. The SPCA’S Annual Appeal kicks off on February 15th, asking all residents of Swift Current and the southwest to consider a donation of $19
(or more) to support the local animal shelter this year.
“The Annual Appeal is an important piece of our annual fundraising for shelter operations,“says Development Officer Teresa Cole. “It’s one of the easiest ways to help us out with a direct donation and tax receipts are issued for donations of $10 or more.”
In 2018 the appeal kicked off with a successful “Celebrity Dog Pound” event which will be returning on Feb 15th this year. Several local celebrities will be turning themselves in at the shelter and will be required to raise at least $500 in donations for the appeal in “pound
fees” to secure their dog tag and release.
Unlike some local non-profit organizations, the SPCA doesn’t receive any provincial or federal funding. The Swift Current SPCA is also not affiliated with nor funded by the Saskatchewan SPCA, as the two organizations have somewhat different mandates. In 2018, about 85% of the SPCA’S annual budget came from the community through donations, adoptions and services, and fundraising events. All proceeds stay in the area to support local operations. With a higher volume of pets, the organization’s budget is now more than $30,000 per month. In addition, the aging shelter
building is requiring more maintenance work and the organization is beginning to plan for a new shelter in future.
Donations toward the SPCA’S “$19 for ‘19” Annual Appeal can be mailed to the Swift Current SPCA at Box 1163, Swift Current, S9H 3X3 or dropped off the SPCA Shelter at 2101 Knight Crescent or the SPCA Used Book Store at 37 1st Ave NE. Donations can also be made online at the SPCA website www.spcaswiftcurrent.com and new this year is the option to send EFT donations to treasurer@spcaswiftcurrent.com (password: 19for19).