Peanut says Look at what you have done !!!

When you read this article and you hear me say “We are the best” you should know that I am talking about you. Since none of our accomplishments could have been possible without your support.

Although, we work fanatically to reach an unobtainable perfection, we do insist on good management of your support to obtain the maximum out of it, because after all, that is what you expect of us,

A little note of apology to begin with:
You have probably noticed that our new web site is only in French, but fear not, we are not forgetting about you at all. With just a little more work, the English should pop up soon. In the mean time, we will transmit the information through our blog.

So, let’s have a look at what you have done!

The SPCA Laurentides-Labelle is a non profit organisation that was founded in 1985 by a group of veterinarians and citizens concerned about the protection of domestic animals. As with all organisations, the beginning was difficult and the progress was slow. It started about 6 years ago when, under a new administration, the SPCALL took the giant leap towards becoming an adoption center with no non essential euthanasia. We were convinced that it was what you wanted and your continued support confirms that.

Then, the need for more space became obvious and essential. If more animals were to spend more time at the shelter we had to be concerned with their comfort and improve the living conditions,

The outside pens were eliminated and different parts of the building were renovated to accommodate all of our animals. Today all the dogs are kept inside, in large enclosures furnished with a dog beds, blankets, food and water bowls. They are walked three times daily and now two large play yards are at their disposal where they can expend some of their energy with other dogs.

The space for cats has quintupled, their cages are spacious and also furnished with cat beds, comfortable blankets, litter pan, food and water bowls. Except for specific cases no cats are left alone in a cage. We also have two large catteries where 10 or 15 cats share the same living space and a smaller inside playroom where a few cats living in cages can get out and go crazy with friends. We also have 20 quarantine cages for new arrivals and 20 isolation cages in a special room for those animals in need of treatment.

That is a sample of what you have done for us. But that is not all.

After many weeks or months, we should say, of negotiating with different animal food providers, our director Corinne Gonzalez signed an agreement allowing us to feed our animals with a top quality food at a low cost. Now, all the animals in our adoption center are fed with Hill’s Science Diet. A starter kit, including a bag of the animal’s favourite food along with information booklet and promotional coupons, is given to each adopting family. But there is more.

In April of 2010 we completed the construction of our new examination and operating room. Three days a week a veterinarian examines treats and/or sterilise our animals on the premises. We are proud to announce that from now on, all animals adopted in our adoption center are sterilised prior to their adoption or they do not leave until it is done.

Low cost food, low cost sterilisations and treatments! That is good management of your money. Would you not say?

All adoptees from our adoption center:

• Receive a basic health examination done by one of our veterinarians
• Receive basic vaccinations and de-worming treatments
• Receive an expert behavioural evaluation
• The SPCALL is part of a large animal rescue organisation which allows us to save even more animals.
• We now have inspectors accredited by the MAPAQ and our General Director « Corinne Gonzalez » sits on the administrative committee of Anima Québec.

The long awaited regulations concerning domestic animals and the application of those regulations have made major improvements, but much still needs to be done for yet more changes.

Here some case where your support allowed us to act:

• 70 sled dogs saved from their deplorable conditions. With the cooperation of HSUS, the Canadian Humane Society and the SPCALL. Those dogs were taken out of horrible conditions and placed in rescue centers where they were all sterilised and adopted. More then 100 puppies doomed to destruction at birth, were born from some of the recuperating females. These puppies were also sterilised and adopted.
  
  More then 100 puppies doomed to destruction at birth
• 30 cats were saved from an individual in Prévost. After our arrival all 30 cats were captured and brought to our adoption center where they were sterilised and adopted.
• Another case of an individual who had kept a few fertile cats in his house. 1 ½ years later he was stuck with nearly 70 cats running the house. Still reproducing, their guardian was not able to provide for them. In cooperation with the town of Sainte-Adèle we started the collection, sterilisation and adoption of the cats. Because of the guardians lack of cooperation we were unable to complete our task however more than 40 cats were saved.

Our long time vision is to become Quebec’s number one adoption center with no non essential euthanasia, as well as a model to educate the public in regard to the need for sterilisation.

Unfortunately, to continue improving and be able to save more animals we are placed in a position where we have to find new accommodations for our shelter. In deed, without a long term engagement from the town of Sainte-Agathe we can no longer plan to expand. The building we are using at the moment is not ours. We have already invested quite a few thousand dollars of infra structure into this building and the installations needed to allow us to improve farther would be costly. We can not afford to spend that amount of your support in a building that could be taken away from us from one day to the next.

This year more then ever:
The SPCA Laurentides-Labelle cannot go forward with its mission without your help. As you can see, you have already done a great deal with your support but there is still a great deal to be done.

We are not giving up and we know, neither will you.
Visit our website or shelter to see how you can help and stay in touch.

We hope to see you at our annual fund raising event“ Gimme Shelter”

Thanks a million and congratulations.