needy animals Archives - Vancouver Humane Society

Guest post by Desiree; activist, animal lover & McVitie fund for animals recipient

This captivating dog was found wandering the streets of a small northern community, Iskut, B.C., all on his lonesome at the age of one month. It was pretty much love at first sight when the two of us locked eyes; him, in search of a mother and I in search of a companion with the most unconditional of love. He literally walked into my life and I’m sure you can understand by looking at his picture, why I couldn’t say no to this face that was longing to be rescued.

I was so grateful to have received support from the Vancouver Humane Society, through their McVitie fund for animals, upon returning home with him from volunteering. They helped me with his vaccinations, tattoo and a neuter – everything he needed to start this new chapter of his life off right.

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iskut I spent last summer biking 2000 km to this area, Tl’abane, more commonly referred to now as the Sacred Headwaters – the birthplace of the Skeena, Stikine and Nass rivers, some of the most vital salmon bearing rivers in all of so-called North America. It is home to the unceded, unsurrendered Tahltan First Nation who have lived in harmony with the land and water for thousands of years.

Iskut and I began our adventure together exploring the mountains, lakes and rivers in Tl’abane. To this day gallivanting in the great outdoors is our favourite activity. I watch as he leaps and bounds through the forest, down snowy mountainsides, through the shallows of creeks and rivers; I think he has mistaken himself for a deer or rabbit. Nevertheless, his playfulness, quirkiness and endurance are prominent signs of a healthy and happy pup, which was made all the more possible by the McVitie fund. He has touched a lot of lives and every time someone asks about him I get to tell a story that should be shared far and wide. Thank you again to the Vancouver Humane Society for helping me help this special pup!

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VHS’s McVitie fund for animals provides low-income guardians of companion animals with spay/neuter assistance, as well as help with unexpected, emergency vet bills. Please consider supporting the McVitie fund. Increase your impact by donating today – all donations will be matched by a generous VHS donor!

“My cat accidentally slipped out the front door and was hit by a car. I’m on disability right now and don’t have enough money to cover the entire vet bill. Please, is there any way you can help me?”

This is the kind of desperate call the Vancouver Humane Society gets several times a week. As VHS’s Program Coordinator & Office Manager, I’m typically the staff member handling the calls when distraught individuals contact us in need of help because their dog, cat or other companion animal is in dire need of emergency vet care. These are low-income folks – often they are on disability, or were recently laid off and are struggling to make ends meet while searching for work, or they are pensioners on a limited income. Whatever their circumstances may be, they all have the same thing in common – they are loving and committed caregivers who simply need a bit of help during a tough time.

Unfortunately, there are always more needy animals than there are available funds and very few programs similar to VHS’s “McVitie Fund For Animals” exist. Often, those without enough funds to cover the vet bill are forced to choose between giving up their beloved companion or euthanasia. This is why the McVitie fund exists – to offer an alternative and keep already cherished animals in their forever home, instead of being surrendered to shelters or unnecessarily euthanized.

Being able to say “yes, we can help” when I receive those desperate calls and hearing the relief in the caller’s voice reminds me of the importance of such a program. Because no one should have to go without their own pain medication in order to make sure their companion animal gets the care they need, or be disadvantaged in receiving help because of a disability, or be unfairly judged due to an unexpected financial hardship when in reality they may have been the only hope for an abandoned animal in need.

I believe in the McVitie Fund For Animals whole-heartedly. I believe in the much needed service it provides and in what it represents in a society where we need to do more to help each other. I believe in the important work VHS does to help animals, so much so that as team captain for VHS in the Scotiabank Half-Marathon/5k. On June 28th, we’ll be running for the animals in what is VHS’s most important fundraiser of the year.

All of our team members have unique and personal reasons for joining this run. Mine is the McVitie Fund For Animals. So please, consider and help our team achieve our goal. Your support causes a ripple effect of happiness – for me, answering the phone at VHS, because I can say “Yes!” to the caller; then for the distraught caregiver on the other end of the line; third to the needy animal; and lastly, to the veterinarian we use who has offered his or her services to our clients at such a reduced rate.