Unless a miracle happens, officials with the local humane society say they will be gone by the end of the year.
The Thunder Bay and District Humane Society is running a $180,000 deficit this year or roughly $15,000 every month. While some might think the announcement Friday that the shelter will close its doors Dec.31 if the gap can’t be filled is a marketing ploy, executive director Maryann Kleynendorst assures the public the threat is very real.
“This is not a bluff. Honest to God if a miracle doesn’t happen or we don’t get some relief we cannot sustain this,” Kleynendorst said Friday holding back tears.
The Humane Society’s entire $400,000 budget is donation-driven. They are now looking for help from the city and the province.
“None of those bodies help us financially in any way at this point,” she said.
While the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals will help distribute the local shelters’ 120 current residents to different shelters across the province should the doors have to close, it can’t help financially.
Kleynendorst said the animals at the humane society would not be euthanized.
“The OSPCA has basically said that they can’t step in (financially),” Kleynendorst said.
The animal shelter has been putting off paying utility bills, veterinarian bills and other payments but Kleynendorst said the patience of those businesses is wearing thin.
“There’s only so long you can expect other local people to sustain you at their cost,” she said.
Now the wages of the shelter’s 10 staff are in jeopardy, which for Kleynendorst and the humane society’s board of directors was the last straw before making the decision to close.
Most staff make minimum wage already so employees can’t be asked to take a pay cut and the shelter is already operating at minimum staffing levels to be able to keep it clean.
“We’re not generously staffed,” Kleynendorst said.
It’s getting harder and harder for the Humane Society to get donations not only from the public but also corporate sponsors, foundations and grant money has been drying up. And with so many worthy charities in a small city like Thunder Bay, it’s hard for people to find ways to support them all Kleynendorst said.
“I don’t know if its donor fatigue or people are feeling the financial crunch and are protecting their money.”
Still with the threat of closure looming over its head, the humane society remains hopeful that someone will come to its aid. One way to help is for people to donate through the pre-authorized debit program. If 1,500 people donated $10 a month through the program, Kleynendorst said the doors could stay open. Otherwise, with only one other shelter available in Thunder Bay, she’s concerned about the future of animals in the city.
“If we can’t stay open I don’t know where the burden is going to fall locally.”
To donate, visit the Thunder Bay and District Humane Society website www.tbayhumane.ca or call 475-8803.
A Facebook movement has also been organized in an effort to save the Humane Society.
