Wild Rose Humane Society needs volunteers

Wild Rose Humane Society (WRHS), an organization whose members are working towards building an animal shelter somewhere between Airdrie and Olds, is in desperate need of volunteers.

People are needed to serve on the board, join committees and help out at fundraising events, including Dog Day Afternoon, which is scheduled to take place at Nose Creek Park after the Canada Day Parade.

“We need 15 volunteers,” said WHRS president Katie Jackson, adding that without help, the event, now in its second year, may have to be cancelled.

“The board and especially our Fundraising Director Maude Laliberte have put so much effort into planning the barbecue and great entertainment for the family, it would be devastating if we had to cancel the event.”

Dog Day Afternoon is a dog-friendly fundraising event for the organization, which will take place between 12 and 4 p.m. on Canada Day.

Last year’s event raised about $5,000.

Dog Day Afternoon will feature a barbecue, concession, local pet-related vendors and dog obedience and agility demonstrations. Several shelters, including Oops-a-Dazy and the Chinook Winds Greyhound Rescue Foundation, will be on hand to showcase adoptable pets.

Two Westjet tickets to anywhere the airline flies will be raffled off and children will have the opportunity to enjoy a bouncy tent.

Volunteers are needed to assist with the barbecue and concession, organizing vendors and wearing mascot costumes.

“This is one of our bigger fundraisers and (all the money) goes to capital funding,” said Jackson.

Animals found in the area are currently taken to shelters in either Calgary or Red Deer, a situation the WRHS is hoping to change, according to Jackson.

WRHS was founded in 2007 under the name Airdrie and District Humane Society. After having land in Didsbury donated for construction, the board changed the organization’s name to better reflect the changing scope of their project.

However, the land deal fell through earlier this year, taking the WRHS back to square one.

Since starting up, the organization has raised about $40,000 to put towards construction of the approximately $500,000 shelter it hopes to build.

Lack of volunteers have made the project slow, and Jackson said when the deal fell through the organization’s original plan to has the shelter built before the end of 2013 was also delayed.

“People really care about having a shelter,” she said. “(Unfortunately) no one is really willing to step up and help us get there. Without volunteers, we won’t have a shelter.”

A volunteer information meeting will be held in the Program Room at the Airdrie Public Library on June 11 at 6 p.m.

Anyone interested in volunteering with the WHRS is encouraged to attend.

For more information or to volunteer with the organization, contact Jackson at info@wildrosehumane.ca