Manitoba animal shelter says trade war curbed donations, adoptions

Rescues Pickle (left) and Lexi. (Penny Teron)

An anonymous donation has saved a Manitoba animal rescue from financial dire straits, but the non-profit said it is still on shaky ground with little relief in sight.

Penny’s All Breed Animal Rescue posted on its Facebook page earlier this week its board was facing a difficult decision amid a drop in donations, adoptions, and a $35,000 debt to its name.

Founder Penny Teron said the trouble started in the fall when U.S. President Donald Trump began warning of a potential trade war coming Canada’s way.

“People realized that the economy is becoming unstable,” she said in an interview with CTV News Winnipeg.

“Where that hits home is nobody wants a dog with the added expense and the vet bills that can accumulate.”

Typically, the organization relies on fundraising to operate, but donations have been ‘pretty much nonexistent’ since the new year, Teron said.

Meanwhile, calls to rescue sick, injured and uncared for animals haven’t stopped.

Veterinarian bills remain the rescue’s biggest expense, as well as its work to host spay and neuter clinics in northern or remote parts of the province.

Adding to that - certain breeds of dogs aren’t as popular with potential fur parents, leaving them in foster homes for months or even years on end.

“People want the cuddly, cute, tiny, little dogs or the Golden Retriever that we brought in was adopted almost instantly,” she said.

“We get 20 applications for a purebred and mixed dogs are often overlooked.”

The rescue did get some much-needed good news this week, in the form of an anonymous $35,000 donation.

That saved Teron from having to take a loan out, but she is hoping the public, private sector, and government can step up and offer some financial help.

The hope is to move into a space where the public can come and meet the adoptable dogs, with a store selling used pet supplies to help bring in more money.

“That’s where our journey is going to take us right now, just so that we can try to sustain ourselves. If people can find it in their hearts to help, to keep us going - it would be great.”

Information on how to donate, adopt, or foster can be found on the rescue’s website.