MELFORT — Drywall has been completed and duct work has started on the North East SPCA’s Harry and Eve Vickar Shelter in Melfort.
“The fundraising has been going on for years,” said Meagan Schmitz, shelter manager. “We just broke ground in August last year and winter has slowed down construction. We’re just getting really, really excited because it’s crunch time. We’re getting down to the bottom wire and things are happening.”
Currently, the North East SPCA has raised $450,000 out of the goal of $1 million they need for the furnished shelter.
“We always said originally, right from the get-go, that we would break ground once we hit $200,000 and we continue to fundraise, reaching out to businesses and individuals and groups in the region to support the North East SPCA,” she said.
If the funds are not raised in time, the shelter will be completed with a loan. Currently, the North East SPCA doesn’t want to use the loan unless they have to.
Regardless of the fundraising, the grand opening is scheduled for Sept. 27.
Schmitz hopes the shelter is open before then to have some time to get a routine going.
“So that’s still the plan now, unless things go sideways with the construction.”
Schmitz said this shelter is important for the community as it is the only shelter in the region, with the nearest shelters being in Prince Albert and Humboldt.
“And they kind of serve their own jurisdictions and they actually can’t take anything from beyond their jurisdiction,” she said. “So there are animals in the northeast region that need our help and that’s why the SPCA is going to serve the whole geographic area of about 35,000 people altogether.”
The SPCA is looking for volunteers for the beer gardens at the Melfort Exhibition. The exhibition runs from July 19 to 21.
Volunteers can reach out to them through their site.
Schmitz said she’s excited for the state of the shelter.
“It’s exciting for me, just being part of the shelter, but I think it’s even more exciting for the people that have been doing this for the last five to seven years trying to fundraise,” Schmitz said. “It’s finally, it’s there. You can see it, it’s happening. After all the hours and hard work they put in they can finally see the fruits of their labour.”
