MOOSE JAW — The Moose Jaw Humane Society (MJHS) has a full calendar of community appearances, contests, and fundraisers lined up for the rest of August and into September — all aimed at helping pets find homes and raising money for their care.
Visit to Capilano Court
On Wednesday, Aug. 20, shelter staff will visit Capilano Court with a few four-legged friends as part of an ongoing outreach program.
“Some of the staff here … go out to different places in Moose Jaw and take shelter pets to visit residents — just to brighten the residents’ day, and also to get our shelter pets more familiarized with being out, being with different people, and behaving in public,” explained Kelsey Leschasin, fundraising co-ordinator at the MJHS.
The ongoing program also includes regular visits to Atria Mulberry Estates, Venvi The Bentley, and others.
Majestics Car Show
On Saturday, Aug. 23, MJHS staff and a few furry friends will attend the Majestics Car Show at Murray GM.
“We’re going to have our van parked there and we’ll have a couple dogs walking around. Every year, (the Majestics Car Club) makes a donation back to the shelter to support us,” she said.
The show will take place throughout the day at Murray GM, located at 15 Chester Road.
Show off your MJHS gear
All month long, the shelter is encouraging supporters to snap and share photos of themselves wearing MJHS gear while they’re out enjoying the summer.
“Basically … when you’re wearing your MJHS shirt, tag us in the picture and say where you are. Everybody who does that will be entered into a draw … and the winner gets to pick a new item of clothing, whether that be a T-shirt, crewneck, or a hoodie,” she said.
There are no specific guidelines for the contest submissions, and participants don’t have to travel far — even a day on the lake at Buffalo Pound is a winning idea. For those who do happen to be travelling, the opportunity is a great way to showcase the shelter’s reach and recent entries have been submitted from Lake Diefenbaker, Flin Flon, Man., and Kimberley, B.C.
The contest runs until Sunday, Aug. 31.
Touch a Truck
The MJHS will take part in this year’s Touch a Truck event on Saturday, Sept. 6, bringing along its city vehicle to give families a closer look at what staff do in the community.
Shelter staff will demonstrate equipment such as the pole catcher used to safely secure stray dogs and cats, and explain the process for responding to animal control calls. The goal, Leschasin said, is to educate children and families about the Humane Society’s role beyond the shelter walls.
During the event’s “quiet hour,” when sirens and horns are paused, the shelter plans to bring a couple of adoptable dogs — provided the weather isn’t too hot — giving visitors a chance to meet them in a calm, low-stress environment.
Touch a Truck will take place at the Temple Gardens Centre, located at 110 First Avenue Northwest.
Paws for Pledges
The Paws for Pledges Radiothon, the shelter’s largest annual fundraiser, returns in November, with fundraising efforts kicking off in early September through its returning Facebook auction.
“Right now we’re collecting donations,” Leschasin said, noting the auction will run for six to eight weeks. “We’ll post a certain amount of items each week … and then at the end of the week, we close the auction, and the highest bidder takes the item.”
This year’s auction will feature a notable big ticket prize in its final week — a round-trip package for two to any destination WestJet flies, donated by the airline.
The auction dates haven’t been announced yet, so stay tuned to the shelter’s Facebook page, “Moose Jaw Humane Society,” for further updates.
Other ways to help
While the MJHS is busy planning an exciting event lineup, Leschasin also reminded residents of several ongoing ways to support the shelter.
Kitten season is here, and the shelter is full of kittens in need of adoption or foster homes. Leschasin encouraged anyone considering adding a furry family member to visit MJHS.ca for details. The MJHS provides all supplies needed for foster care, made possible through the support of its monthly donors.
The shelter’s bookstore offers affordable books, puzzles and games, with all proceeds going directly to animal care. Selections are available on-site at the shelter as well as satellite bookstores at Tourism Moose Jaw, Temple Gardens Mineral Spa, and The Wandering Market.
Supporters can also help out by donating their recycling or volunteering. Contact the shelter for more information.
The Moose Jaw Humane Society is located at 1755 Stadacona Street West. For more information, call 306-692-1575, visit “Moose Jaw Humane Society” on Facebook, or visit MJHS.ca.
