NEEDS DONATIONS

The Richmond Animal Protection Society staff are asking the public for help, after the past three months have left their finances in what their director calls "an emergency."

This spring, executive director Carol Reichert says, the society's animal-control van has needed major repairs, the computer system has crashed, and more animals than usual have been dropped off or picked up off the street.

But most importantly, donations have been steadily dropping.

This month, the shelter -- currently home to about 80 cats, 21 dogs, 50 rabbits, two roosters, three birds and several rodents -- has received 40 per cent of its usual donations.

"We really are appealing for that monthly donor support," Reichert said. "That's the lifeblood of the centre."

Donations mostly go toward covering vet bills, which Reichert said cost the society about $15,000 a month.

That's because it's a "no-kill" shelter -- one of a few in the city. Staff will not euthanize animals if they only need to see a vet to live a good life, she said.

"It is harder to operate a no-kill shelter," said Reichert. Often, cats and dogs arrive with rotting teeth, skin problems, ruptured ligaments or illness due to starvation.

"The city basically covers normal operation," she said. "The extra vet bills and long-term care is up to us."

CAN YOU DONATE?

Richmond Animal Protection Society could really use regular MONTHLY donations, which can be set up through contacting the charity or by using their online CanadaHelps page.

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

Richmond Animal Protection Society (RAPS) is a registered charity that operates two shelters in the City of Richmond, British Columbia. The first shelter, on No. 6 Road in Richmond, is North America's largest cat sanctuary. At this shelter homeless and abandoned cats and kittens are rescued and cared for. Most of these beautiful animals would have otherwise faced starvation, injury, disease and an early death due to the many hazards in their environment. The cat sanctuary is currently home to more than 800 animals.

The second shelter is the City of Richmond Animal Shelter, which RAPS have operated since February 2007. In 2006, RAPS bid for and was awarded the city contract to take over operation of this shelter. By expanding to a second facility, RAPS now cares for a wider variety of animals including dogs, cats, rabbits and other small domestic animals.

In addition, the RAPS City Shelter runs a comprehensive adoption program to find the animals at this facility a safe and loving home.