A local pet store manager and animal rescue volunteer is hoping to raise to the public profile, and some much-needed money for the non-profit group, Cariboo Companion Animal Rescue and Rehabilitation Society (CCARRS), by hosting a fun event for the public this weekend.
“They are doing such a good job,” said Leanne Burns, manager of Bosley’s by Pet Valu, of CCARRS. “This week they were crawling under trailers rescuing feral cats at Comer Hill.”
Burns and her staff are hosting a two-day, carnival atmosphere event at Bosley’s, located at Prosperity Ridge, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. both days, with games such as a cake walk, prizes, a raffle table and a visit from the Williams Lake Fire Department and RCMP from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.
“There’s going to be lots to do for kids and adults and people are also encouraged to bring their furry pets. We’ll have lots of treats for them,” she said, adding she’s already close to meeting her goal of raising $6,500 for CCARRS to cover vet bills and building supplies for more kennels. “We are going to blow this one out of the water.”
To date, more than 200 cats and 75 dogs have been adopted out of Bosley’s in the last year-and-a-half thanks to the partnership between the pet store and the grassroots rescue society. All told, in the seven years that it has been a non-profit society CCARRS has rescued and/or rehabilitated more than 500 dogs.
CCARRS co-founder Jan Laurin, who is based out of 100 Mile, sees most of her support and need coming from Williams Lake.
“Our greatest support comes from Williams Lake and we are so grateful for that,” Laurin said, noting CCARRS has grown from being mostly funded by herself, family and friends in the early days before it became a society that last year spent $20,000 on rescuing animals.
“Now I’m retired so my pockets are a lot smaller and I have to rely on others,” she said, laughing.
Support from businesses such as the Animal Care Hospital of Williams Lake and Pacific Coastal Airlines has been critical to their success.
“Those guys are pretty awesome. The Animal Care Hospital gives us a lot of support and Pacific Coast flies rescues all over the province and have done so for many, many years for nothing.”
Laurin said she started rescuing and fostering animals because there is no facility in the 100 Mile House area. She also finds the work very rewarding.
“In order to help animals you must also have to want to help people,” she said. “The two go together.”
CCARRS rescues animals, such as the 20 feral cats taken out of the Comer Hill Trailer Park this week, and also receives animals from owners who cannot for whatever reason care for their pets.
Laurin said she uses her connections with other non-profits to adopt out the animals.
“There is a huge network of rescue organizations across B.C. and Canada, apart from the SPCA, who help each other.”
Many of the Comer Hill cats, for example, have already been flown out for adoption.
Laurin and her small army of volunteers will be on hand at Bosley’s this weekend with animals up for adoption as well as applications if anyone is interested in fostering a pet.