With the increase in the number of pets that are being handled daily at the Animal Haven Rescue League (AHRL) in Stettler, there is an urgent need for help and new volunteers.
"This year has proven to be another busy one for AHRL, a volunteer and non-profit rescue group, which is based out of Stettler," said Jeannie Wright, president, AHRL. "With over 70 adoptions and 41 surrenders taken in and re-homed so far in 2015 alone, we are in dire need of volunteers."
Wright mentioned that the focus in 2015 for AHRL has been to help families and their pets within Stettler and surrounding areas, and AHRL has worked hard to assist families help re-home their pets.
"Some of these animals haven't actually come into our care, so the total for adoptions really doesn't reflect the number of animals who have received help from AHRL," added Wright. "We have worked hard to make our presence felt in the community by providing training opportunities to help pet owners having difficulties with their pets, locating and reuniting lost pets with their owners, helping families and their pets in emergency situations or with vet care, besides assisting stray or abandoned animals."
With the annual general meeting scheduled in the first week of November, two of the key topics tabled will be volunteers and foster homes.
Wright stated that without the increase in the number of volunteers, keeping the organization going would be a "far cry".
"We are looking for anyone who has any time at all to volunteer, like any organization, there is a lot of "behind the scene" activities that require volunteer time," said Wright. "Even if volunteers can't afford a set number of hours, we are flexible and can work out something, but any time volunteered will make a huge difference."
Some of the volunteer activities include vet appointments, transportation, social media, fundraising events and adoption meets.
"Fosters are a critical factor for this organization as AHRL does not have a facility," said Wright. "When we receive a call from someone who needs to surrender an animal, we can only do intake if we have an open foster home willing to take in this animal."
For fostering, AHRL provides all the food, supplies, vet care and training needed, and there is no requirement that fosters have to live in Stettler.
With AHRL having a lot of goals going into 2016, Wright hopes that the organization can meet all its volunteer needs.
For more information on volunteering, call 403-741-6128, or visit the AHRL Facebook Page or check out the website www.animalhavenrescue.ca.