The Weyburn Humane Society reported a net income loss of $16,934 at their annual general meeting, with their year ending on Sept. 30, 2010. Contributing factors to the loss included a decrease in donations, and a slight decrease in adoption fees.
"The reduction in revenue, especially donor revenue, exposes an urgent need to creative and aggressive fundraising," explained Dave Frayn in his last president's report. "The success of an endeavour like this relies on the dedicated and unselfish actions of all involved."
The gross revenue of the Humane Society for 2010 was $70,624, which was down from their revenue of $96,774 reported in 2009. The expenditures for 2010 were $87,364, and was down slightly from $92,109 reported in 2009.
Frayn resigned as president of the Humane Society, after chairing the board for the last 16 years. "We have come from a small group doing raffles and bake sales, to having an animal shelter, staff, an animal control contract and huge responsibility to keep it all flowing."
"It has been quite an experience," added Frayn. "There have been periods of exhilaration and periods of frustration. My love for animals was a driving force that propelled me through the low times, and my four-legged friends would always renew my resolve and restore the feeling that all the hard work was worth the effort."
To prepare the board of directors for his departure as president, Frayn reduced his involvement at the animal shelter and in board work during the year. "It had been an eventful year, with a re-negotiation of our animal control contract and negotiated a sale to our revenue property."
During the 12-month period of Oct. 1, 2009 to Sept. 30, 2010, the Humane Society shelter housed 288 dogs and 140 cats. Of the dogs, 180 came in through animal control, 78 were strays brought in by the public, 18 were relinquished by owners, and 12 were brought to Weyburn by the Saskatchewan Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SSPCA).
Of the cats, 39 were brought in through animal control, 91 by the public, five were relinquished by owners, one by the SSPCA and four were born in the shelter. The Humane Society also housed two rabbits.
For outgoing numbers, both rabbits, 58 dogs and 105 cats were adopted to new homes; a total of 208 dogs and 17 cats were reclaimed by their owners; and 12 cats were euthanized.
There was a call for more volunteer members to assist with Animal Control. New president Kelly Eddy explained some details on providing Animal Control. "Basically since it is against the bylaw for any animal to be running at large, it is the members of the Animal Control that go to apprehend that animal and take it to the shelter."
"That animal is then kept at the shelter until the owners reclaim it, or are able to readopt it after 72 hours. Sometimes they are hard calls, and sometimes they are easy calls," explained Eddy. It was clarified that Animal Control doesn't remove animals from owners' properties, but does receive assistance from the police to handle any reports of animal cruelty.
Volunteers from the Humane Society also provide visits by their animal to senior homes and schools, to assist with adoption and publicize their programs.
Residents who are seeking to adopt an animal are encouraged to visit the Humane Society. Normally they can house 24 cats and 10 dogs in their kennels. They currently are above-capacity with pets who require adoption, especially as they receive increased calls regarding stray dogs and cats during the winter from concerned public.
