The Weyburn Humane Society currently has ten dogs, nine cats and one rabbit in its care. Each of the animals is very well-suited to a responsible, loving home.
"We presently have a number of dogs at the shelter that need responsible homes, with responsible pet owners willing to exercise and train them," said Kelly Eddy, president of the board of directors for the Weyburn Humane Society (WHS).
On September 20, members of the city police, along with members of the Saskatchewan SPCA and the Weyburn Humane Society, executed a search warrant at a Weyburn residence, where a total of 16 adult dogs were seized and brought to the WHS.
Ten of those dogs have remained at the shelter since September and are still waiting to be adopted.
One of those dogs did get to meet her new owner on March 13, when Ed Buhr drove up from Estevan in hopes of finding an older dog that he could call his own.
Buhr said he had never owned a dog before, so in order to make the adjustment go more smoothly, he wanted an older dog that needs a loving home to live out its days.
Chelsey, a beautiful, blue-eyed shepherd-husky cross with plenty of fur in need of a good brushing, took to Buhr instantly and it was obvious he fell for her right away as well. Buhr had met with two dogs prior to meeting Chelsey, but three times was the charm for Buhr.
The staff and board members of the WHS are very hands-on and involved with the pet adoption process. Every applicant must be approved by a board member and they reserve the right to refuse any adoption.
"To adopt an animal, we ask that the interested person fill out a questionnaire and it is then reviewed by members of the board," said Kelly Eddy. "We want our animals to be well suited to the human applying to adopt. Pet responsibility is a must and is the main factor in even considering adoption. Yard conditions, exercise routines and veterinarian visits are a must, especially with the promotion of spay and neutering."
Animals have three basic needs, which are water, shelter and food, but there are many other wonderful benefits to pet ownership.
"Adopting from a humane society promotes the 'mixed breed' animals and they do tend to make wonderful pets," said Eddy.
The shelter offers a two-week trial period to ensure the animal adjusts to its new home.
For the sake of expediency, since Ed Buhr was from out of town, his application was reviewed immediately by board member, Jeff Cooney, who was in attendance during the process that day.
Cooney said his own dog was from the shelter and that for him, the match wasn't instant, but because of his time spent with the animals at the shelter, it was a natural process of 'man and best friend' becoming an inevitable pair.
"When it came time for someone to adopt him, it felt like they would be taking my dog," said Cooney. "So that's how I knew."
Sometimes, a sign is all you need.
Before Ed Buhr finally took Chelsey home to Estevan, a teenage girl, also named Chelsey, arrived with her mom to the shelter in order make a cash donation. Everyone in attendance loved the serendipity of the same name, which added to the excitement of another well-matched pair.
The shelter also handles Weyburn's need for Animal Control Services, which are offered 24/7 within the City of Weyburn. The Animal Control Officer duties are handled by shelter staff during day hours and by volunteer board members during the nights.
"Since the WHS has taken over ACO services for the City, the numbers tend to be getting less for picking up strays or animals running at large," said Eddy. "We like to believe the public are now more aware of responsible pet ownership and keeping an eye on their pet's safety."
WHS encourages dog training and obedience classes.
The shelter also has a number of incredibly affectionate cats. Jub Jub is the lonely female among eight males, six of which are neutered and all are ready for a home. Anyone looking for a good cat would be very happy with a visit to the shelter.
Adopting an un-neutered or un-spayed pet includes a rebate upon proof of the surgery. Pets that are ten or more years old have a much lower adoption fee.
The Weyburn Humane Society, which is no-kill whenever possible, houses well-cared-for animals that offer joy and companionship to the right home, although responsibility is paramount is the WHS staff.
"The joys of owning an animal are too numerous to mention," said Eddy. "It takes time, commitment and dedication to provide the best life for your four-legged friend."
Donations of funds, food, toys and time spent walking dogs or petting cats, are always welcome.
Contact the shelter at 848-7387 for more information on how you can help. Or, go in person to meet a future pet.
