Urgent need for new pet shelter as facility stretched beyond capacity
Dogs and cats recuperating on the floor, deteriorating crates and puppies in cages in the garage.
These are the signs that Collingwood's Georgian Triangle Humane Society (GTHS) has surpassed its capacity.
"Currently, our building is not suitable as a facility to keep up with the volume of animals or the demand for our services. Pressure for space to safely deliver programs and services for pets and people mounts," said Sonya Reichel, executive director of GTHS.
The current facility on Tenth Line was built in 2007 and is 6,000 square feet. It was designed for 500 animals.
Last year alone, the organization took in 1,400 homeless animals and facilitated nearly 1,200 adoptions.
Now, pet owners are struggling to keep up with raising costs and are facing housing insecurity, said Reichel.
Demands for accessibly priced vaccinations, spay/neuter surgeries and emergency medical support are at an all-time high. The Humane Society offers programs and services to help keep pets with their families during emergencies and crises – in 2022, supporting over 3,000 pets to stay out of the shelter system.
"Community outreach services are also in high demand. We are also hearing from an increase of communities in need of emergency medical care when a crisis hits a family for their pet. Over the last two years, we have seen a 40% increase in the need for pet parents in emergency situations", Reichel said.
The GTHS serves Collingwood, Clearview, Wasaga Beach, Meaford, Grey Highlands and the Blue Mountains. As those communities have grown, so has the demand for pet services, she said. Over recent months, the number of stray dogs coming into the animal centre is growing beyond the volume that is sustainable.
The GTHS is currently in the midst of a $14.8 million dollar fundraising campaign for its new Regional Centre for Pets and People. To date, they've raised $3.5 million, and a property has been purchased on Sanford Fleming Drive in Collingwood.
The new animal centre, expected to open in 2025, allows GTHS to increase adoptions, offer hope and wellness to more seniors and youth at risk and perform three times the number of surgeries.
"At the moment, we cannot continue to sustain operations in our current facility. Cats and dogs are recovering from surgical care in our hallways, dogs are in crates in the garage, there is no private space to counsel people through emergency situations. Parking is largely unavailable for clients and volunteers. Our HVAC system needs to be replaced immediately", she said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
They were from different countries and barely spoke each other's languages. More than 20 years later, they're still happily in love
He decided to spend Christmas somewhere that wouldn't involve snowstorm disasters. She was spending the holidays with family, travelling for the first time outside of her native country of Venezuela. 23 years later, they're still in love.
Man who set himself on fire outside Trump trial dies of injuries, police say
A man who doused himself in an accelerant and set himself on fire outside the courthouse where former U.S. President Donald Trump is on trial has died, police said.
12 students and teacher killed in Columbine school shooting remembered at 25th anniversary vigil
Thirteen victims of the Columbine High School shooting were remembered during a vigil Friday on the eve of the 25th anniversary of the shooting that was the worst the nation had seen at the time.
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
Israeli airstrike in southern Gaza city of Rafah kills at least 9 Palestinians, including 6 children
An Israeli airstrike on a house in Gaza's southernmost city killed at least nine people, six of them children, hospital authorities said Saturday, as Israel pursued its nearly seven-month offensive in the besieged Palestinian territory.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
Iraq investigates a blast at a base of Iran-allied militias that killed 1. U.S. denies involvement
Iraqi authorities said Saturday that they were investigating an explosion that struck a base belonging to the Popular Mobilization Forces, a coalition of Iran-allied militias, killing one person and injuring eight.
The House is on the brink of approving aid for Ukraine and Israel after months of struggle
The House is preparing in a rare Saturday session to approve US$95 billion in foreign aid for Ukraine, Israel and other U.S. allies.
'It was joy': Trapped B.C. orca calf eats seal meat, putting rescue on hold
A rescue operation for an orca calf trapped in a remote tidal lagoon off Vancouver Island has been put on hold after it started eating seal meat thrown in the water for what is believed to be the first time.