The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

24 Acton/Georgetown, Friday, May 11, 2007 YOU AND YOUR PET New UCHS manager challenged by the constant need for funding LISA TALLYN Staff Writer Erika Longman loves her job. The Hillsburgh woman, who took over in January as manager of the Upper Credit Humane Society (UCHS), is eager to get to work every day. "It's not work, the days just fly by," says Longman, an animal lover. "There are surprises every day, but I knew to expect surprises." Longman, formerly an animal control officer with the UCHS, says the biggest challenge she faces in her new role is finding sufficient money to fund the shelter's annual operations. The bulk of that money comes from donations, as grants of any kind are hard to come by, she says. "Most grantors tend to like children's charities and education," says Longman. "We kind of just live hand to mouth." As only an affiliate of the Ontario Society of Prevention of Cruelty toward Animals (OSPCA) Longman stresses they do not receive any funding from the organization, something she believes many people may not be aware of. On top of the daily costs of running the UCHS, which serves a large area including Halton Hills and Erin, there are extra costs that arise throughout the year, often for medical bills for the animals. For example, UCHS recently faced an $800 veterinary bill for a calico cat named Genevieve who required eye surgery after a pellet went in her eye. The surgery was a success, Genevieve's eye was saved and her vision retained. But the cost of the surgery, which is actually only half of the true cost since the veterinarian covered the rest of the bill from a fund he has for animals with special needs, put a huge strain on the UCHS's budget-- and Genevieve is not the only animal there with costly medical needs. "We have a number of animals in need of expensive dental surgery," says Longman. Currently she says UCHS is also struggling with a leaky roof that will need to be repaired. So any extra money they receive she says could be put toward that as well. A recently launched steady fundraiser for UCHS is the Georgetown Thrift Shop, which officially opened in February in the Moore Park Plaza. The store features home fashion items, books, and children's items. All the money raised from sales in the shop goes to the UCHS. Longman is grateful for all the support they receive-- both in monetary form and in time. "They (the animal lovers who support them) are an incredibly dedicated bunch. If it weren't for our volunteers and supporters we wouldn't be here." Longman says many volunteers have been with the UCHS since day one. "It's an emotionally draining place to be. People don't always stay for the long term." But she says they appreciate any time people can give and always need more volunteers. "Whatever they want to do, we can find something for them. Whatever they can give us, and we're grateful for." pickShe says the UCHS currently has approxiing up mately 35 volunteers who do a variety of differwild animals. ent jobs. Longman Tucker "The majority like to work hands-on with estimates 99 and the animals either with dog walking or they per cent of Longman come in and brush the cats. We do have the time some who help out with fundraising." with wild animals people think they have been abandoned when Each year the UCHS adopts out approximately 500 animals- in actuality they have not. most of them cats and dogs. She estimates the ratio is 25 cats to "Wildlife is best left in its natural habitat, its odds of survival approximately 10 dogs and the average length of stay for animals are much higher," says Longman. in their care is two to three weeks, but some do stay longer. Longman is currently working with her dog Tucker, who "Older cats are often an issue and black cats tend to be a little came to UCHS after being picked up as a stray wandering along harder to place. People are most often looking for puppies and Steeles Ave. when he was just a puppy. She had fostered Tucker small dogs, which are very rare to pass through the doors here." at her home and was sad when he was adopted. When he was Adoption fees are $135 for cats and $226 for dogs, which turned back into the shelter again, Longman took it as a sign that includes vaccines, micro-chipping and spaying or neutering. he was hers. Her goal is to have Tucker act as a sort of "spokesAlong with domestic animals, Longman says UCHS also takes in dog" for the humane society and future plans include eventually sick or injured wildlife. utilizing him in an education program she would like to launch. "We do now have a wildlife expert who volunteers with us," Upper Credit Humane Society Shelter is located at the corner she says. With his expertise they hope to be able to provide a lot of Trafalgar Rd. North and Wellington Rd. 24. Its phone number of advice about wildlife over the phone as opposed to going out is 519-833-2287, and web address, www.uppercredit.com. Meeting AllYour Grooming Needs for Cats & Dogs Multi Pet Discounts Gift Certificates Available Our staff includes licensed obedience judges, behavioural consultants and multi titled trainers in obedience, agility, conformation, field and tracking. We teach with positive motivational training! Campaign Dog Academy 13417 - 22 Sideroad 905-702-7600 Home of Canada's Top Obedience Dogs Yearly SUPER SUDS PET STOP WE'VE MOVED... Our new location is across from Canadian Tire Since 1987 ·Clipping ·Bathing ·Grooming (All Breeds) ·Professional Styling Debbie Niedermuller Sara Tone Member of Ontario Dog Groomers Association REG'D GERMAN SHEPHERD PUPPIES AVAILABLE $10 OFF Your First Visit Day, Evening and Weekend Appointments 332 Guelph St., Unit 5 905-877-8884 www.supersudspetstop.ca Call 905-873-7055 For An Appointment www.campaigndogacademy.com Puppies & Kittens NOW AVAILABLE BECAUSE YOU CARE ABOUT YOUR PET Specialists in Protect Your Pet! ID tags $7.99 Pet Nutrition engraved while you wait We carry a wide range of small A Complete line of animals, fish, birds and reptiles Pet Accessories R.R. #4, Georgetown, Ont. 905-873-1354 Corner of River Rd. and 10th Line (Across from Eagle Ridge Golf Course) www.terraglen.com Mobile/House Calls Dental Services Preventative Medicine Professional all breed dog and cat grooming Surgery Wellness and Senior Programs Kitten and Puppy Programs Separate Cat Suites for boarding Spacious runs for all breed dog boarding Pet Supplies 140 Guelph St., Georgetown 905-873-0933 Hospital tours welcome and visiting hours encouraged.