SASKATCHEWAN - On Feb. 1, SOS Prairie Rescue is launching “Beat-the-Heat, a Spay-it Forward Initiative," a pilot project aimed at ensuring everyone, despite income, or circumstance, has the opportunity to offer either their beloved pet or a known neighbourhood stray, the gift of a last litter.
Saskatchewan is in a consistent state of stray and unwanted cat overpopulation and due to the lingering effects of the pandemic, shelters and rescue groups across the province have seen an influx in stray animals and are consistently flooded with requests for assistance, forcing intake freezes, reduced quality of care, and euthanasia, said Gena Messenger, Vice President of SOS Prairie Rescue Monday.
“It is no secret that cats can populate quickly”, said Messenger, “Spaying and neutering is the only way out of this situation and if someone has the ability to ‘Spay it Forward’ they can feel good knowing they’re saving feline lives and making a difference in the rescue world.”
SOS Prairie Rescue is asking for financial assistance in order to ensure the pilot project is a success and can be utilized through all corners of the province. For every $140 raised, one reduced price spay/neuter will be offered to an applicant in need. Applications will not be accepted until March 1 to ensure they can accept applicants according to funds allocated.
“We are calling upon levels of government, animal advocacy groups and caring community members, to come together to help promote and provide solutions to a shared goal of eliminating the province of the overpopulation crisis and stray abandoned pet problem,” said Messenger.
Members of the community are asked to consider opening their homes to an animal in need, either temporarily or forever. Understanding that this is not possible for everyone, monetary and supply donations are desperately needed to keep stray and abandoned animals safe and fed until help arrives.
“Everyone should agree that homeless and abandoned pets are a human made problem, and it's everyone’s responsibility,” said Messenger.
SOS Prairie Rescue is the only Saskatchewan-wide, volunteer run cat rescue organization. SOS rescues “strays of Saskatchewan” and provides them with veterinary care as well as the rehabilitation necessary for adoption into loving homes. SOS also runs TNRM programs throughout the province with a high success rate and is committed to working with towns, villages, RM’s and the likes to handle the overpopulation by way of Trap, Neuter, Return, Manage (TNRM). The success of these projects relies on community advocacy, participating vet clinics and of course, funds. This is where stakeholder collaboration is crucial.
Donations can be made online at www.sosprairierescue.com, via e-transfer (emt@sosprairierescue.com) or mail (P.O. Box 448, Vanscoy, SK S0L 3J0).
