Pipestone Flyer
A group of youngsters in Leduc are helping lost, abandoned and abused animals find a shelter.
Last week, the Jack and Jill Playschool donated $153.98 to the County of Leduc Animal Shelter Society to help them in their quest to build a shelter and fund a humane society in the county.
Theresa Theberge, treasurer of Jack and Jill Playschool said the money was raised during a read-a-thon a the playschool in February.
“Given that CLASS is just starting up, we thought it would be an excellent idea. The kids did really well.”
According to Lyn Cardus, president of CLASS, the society was founded to create a humane society in Leduc, as there are no centralized resources in the area. Right now, there are a number of small animal rescue societies working to help injured and abandoned animals operating independently and using the resources of the Edmonton Humane Society. When the Edmonton Humane Society shut it’s doors to animals because they were full last summer, that left many struggling.
“We see ourselves as a central community resource,” said Cardus. “(The small rescues) do a fantastic job but they need a resource to help them in the community as well.”
CLASS is currently working to raise enough money, or in-kind donations, to have buildings on 2.5 acres that would be home to the office and animal shelter. Ultimately they would like to be able to provide veterinarian and animal bylaw enforcement services and provide education services to the public as well as housing to everything from gerbils and snakes to dogs, cats and livestock.
“We need a full-fledged humane society centrally located in the country,” said Pardus, noting CLASS is a volunteer organization and registered charity that would need about $75,000 to operate annually.
“We have a huge problem and no standardized policies to deal with animals,” she said. “We have huge, huge issues with stray cats, animal abuse and as the region grows and expands, it’s just going to get worse. We need to be ahead of the curve.”
To help CLASS achieve its goal, contact Pardus at 780-980-5327 or look them up online at info@classalberta.ca.