I managed to gain 15 or 20 new “best friends” over the weekend.
My wife Kari and I spent some time at St. Albert’s Lions Park for the Second Chance Animal Rescue Society’s (SCARS) annual “Tails on the Trails” fundraiser. People packed the park to celebrate SCARS’ on-going efforts to rehabilitate and find foster/permanent homes for injured animals in Northern Alberta.
Last year, “Tails on the Trails” raised $25,000 for the charity – to put “need” in perspective, SCARS spent $175,000 in vet bills alone in 2008. Operating costs run about a half-million dollars annually.
We spent the afternoon hearing success stories (many of the families who adopt pets through SCARS bring the animals back to the fundraisers so volunteers and foster parents can “catch up” with the dogs they nursed back to health), and going for walks with pups like Tanner, Springer and Tuck who are still waiting for permanent homes.
One of the most remarkable elements of SCARS is its ability to place more than 500 animals in new homes every year, despite lacking the facilities and budget of similar, larger organizations. The group proudly claims to have avoided euthanizing a single animal (with the exception of extreme cases, where it’s the most humane option) in its seven year history. SCARS has also partnered with two pounds up North previously burdened by high kill rates, and helped keep their number at ZERO for the past two years.
The group’s volunteers deserve a lot of credit for their efforts in providing rehabilitation and foster care for pups who need it most.
Kudos!
rpj
Ryan,
It was great to meet you and Kari on Saturday. Thanks for coming out and walking Coach and Tanner! You must have been their lucky charms as they both were able to find wonderful homes that day! Tails on the Trails is one of the many exciting events that we hold each year. It is one that is close to the hearts of many of our volunteers as they get to see the success stories, the ones that began in many of the foster homes. The reunion is always heartwarming.
Again, thanks for joining us and we look forward to seeing you again in the near futrue!!
ps that is a great picture of you & Kari with Coach and Tanner!
June 8th, 2009 at 12:49 pmHey Ryan,
June 8th, 2009 at 12:54 pmIt was awesome for you guys to come and hang out with the SCARS crew-and I’m sure the dogs appreciated the walks! Thanks for the support and hopefully we’ll see you guys again!
Thank you Ryan and Kari for coming out on Saturday! You two handled even the most rambunctious dogs and put up with being photographed all day! Hope to see you soon!
June 8th, 2009 at 1:57 pmRyan,
Thank you for joining SCARS on Saturday and giving us some wonderful exposure to help find homes for the dogs in our care!
I look forward to meeting you and Carrie at future events.
June 8th, 2009 at 6:40 pmRyan and Kari, thanks to caring people like yourself, our Society can help more animals every year. Thank you for not only being a supporter but taking the time to spread the word. Hope to have you attend next year with all of your friends.
June 8th, 2009 at 9:49 pmThanks so much for coming out and spending the day with the dawgs! And for helping me out with my Morty boy. Morty has been in my home since the end of January after he had major hip surgery, so I guess he has kind of attached himself to me, but he loved the attention you two gave him while I was busy adopting out all of those cute puppies. I think you two must be good luck, because a family that came out on Saturday, came today to meet Morty, and with any luck, he may have found his forever home.
Was great to meet you both, and hopefully we will see more of you both in the future – don’t forget about Canines & Cocktails in September!
June 10th, 2009 at 12:49 am