Hundreds of animals have been helped through the New Brunswick SPCA’s Happy Tails program over the past year.
Now, the provincial organization is turning to the public for help to keep the program alive and well for years to come.
The Happy Tails program launched in June 2024 to provide spay and neuter services for low-income families.
Several months ago, officials expanded the program to include financial assistance for emergency veterinary care.
“I knew that the need was large, but it is even larger than what we anticipated,” Lesley Rogers, executive director of the New Brunswick SPCA, said in an interview.
More than $300K spent so far
A 2022 study by the Canadian Animal Health Institute found that more than 20 per cent of Canadian pet families could not afford preventative care.
Since the program launched, it has supported more than 600 spay or neuter procedures and provided emergency veterinary care to nearly 350 pets.
The program was initially funded with $120,000 through the estate of the late June Hooper and a $150,000 contribution from the provincial government.
“We’ve spent well over $300,000 so far, and we know that the applications keep coming in every week, and we’re not going ot be able to continue in the way we want to unless we’re able to raise more money,” said Rogers.
New Brunswick Union matching donations
The New Brunswick SPCA launched an urgent fundraising campaign this week to replenish the fund, which Rogers said is nearly empty at this point.
As part of the campaign, the New Brunswick Union is matching all donations made before Aug. 31, up to $6,500.
“If we aren’t able to mobilize more money to prevent these things from happening, we are going to have all kinds of pressures on the system that we’re not going to be able to sustain,” said Rogers.
“When we help one family spay their cat, we’re potentially preventing hundreds of homeless kittens. These surgeries also reduce cancer risks and make pets calmer, more loving family companions.”
You can learn more about the program and how to donate through the New Brunswick SPCA’s website.
