Whistler’s Royal Bank is sending out a challenge to other businesses in Whistler and Pemberton to fundraise for Whistler Animals Galore in July.
"There are so many dog lovers here (at RBC) and we really wanted to help WAG out," said Lara Wall, operations support officer.
Staff at RBC decided to issue the challenge after learning that WAG is struggling with money issues following cuts to funding from the RMOW.
"We don’t want to see them closed so we started brainstorming on what kind of fundraising we can do to help them out," said Wall.
The staff is planning a potluck Friday with participants donating $5 to take part. They will also have "jean Fridays" throughout July where staff will pay $5 for the privilege of wearing denim to work and they are even thinking of offering dog cookies to canine customers for a donation to WAG.
"We haven’t worked it all out yet," said Wall. "But hopefully this will help them out and help them stay open to do the great work they do all the time."
Other businesses are already on board.
Pemberton Councillor Mark Blundell plans to fundraise at his Pemberton Valley Supermarket.
"Certainly this is a worthwhile cause for the community," he said. "People have to take responsibility."
Blundell said that Pemberton’s council does support WAG’s work, but there is simply no money to help them out at this time.
"From what I gathered at council we certainly support their initiative and hope they do well," he said.
"It is a good facility and it is needed by the community but it’s a question of where do we get the money. We are caught between a rock and a hard place on this one."
Steven Turner, owner of Whistler’s Local Automotive, is also taking part. He plans to donate $5 to WAG each time someone uses their Chamber of Commerce Community Card to buy vehicle repairs throughout the summer.
"My kids are actively involved with WAG and after listening to them talk about it I know it is a good thing to donate to," said Turner.
"We love our pets and this is something we can do to help animals that don’t have a home or need help. This community needs WAG."
The community fundraising challenge couldn’t come at a better time said WAG executive director Carol Coffey.
"It is just amazing," she said of the challenge.
"It is a great idea…. (And doing it in) July is great timing as we actually have two fundraisers we are planning in July. We are doing a Hawaiian Luau with Joey Chans on July 12 and then our dog wash, which we do every year, is coming up July 22."
This year the RMOW cut $13,500 from WAG’s funding, giving the animal shelter $60,000.
WAG did approach the Village of Pemberton for funding, as Pemberton accounts for 22.5 per cent of the animals it looks after, but received no help. It has also approached the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District. To date the district has given $1,500.
WAG 2005 statistics show that Mount Currie accounts for almost 41 per cent of the animals looked after, Whistler is at 25 per cent, Birken 2.5 per cent, D’Arcy 6.67 per cent, and Lillooet and Squamish are at 1 per cent. In all WAG took in 120 cats and dogs in 2005.
In 2005 vet bills accounted for close to $25,000 of spending – and that is with services at cost and all the time donated by Dr. David Lane and his staff at Coast Mountain Veterinary Clinic.
"I think we are in to the tens of thousands of dollars in terms of what we donate in reduced costs," said Lane, who works during and after hours for WAG because he believes it’s a personal responsibility to the community and because he is passionate about animal welfare.
Just recently, said Lane, his staff took a pot of money they had been saving for a staff party and used it to pay for surgery for a WAG animal in need.
"We each do what we can," he said simply of the generous gesture.
Past WAG chair Jennifer Angus said the organization has put in place a strategic fundraising plan that kicked off in January in an effort to make up the $13,500 cut to funding.
But at the end of the day if there aren’t enough funds WAG may have to start turning away animals in need from outer-lying areas.
"Obviously we want the animals cared for but it is too challenging when we don’t have the money to look after them," said Angus.
"We don’t want to have to do this but if we don’t have enough money it has been strongly suggested to us by council and by an RMOW staff representative that we turn the animals away.
"Either (other) regions begin to pay us and we carry on or other alternatives have to be found because it is not fair to the Whistler taxpayers and it is not fair to the Whistler staff and volunteers to continue this way."
To find out more about how to help WAG go to wwwthewagway.com or call 604-935-8364.
