Michelle Spark (Battlefords Humane Society), left centre, at town council's meeting Monday. (Angela Brown/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Angela Brown

Funding increase for 2023

Town shows support for Battlefords Humane Society

Oct 18, 2022 | 8:45 AM

The Town of Battleford is giving the Battlefords Humane Society a much-needed boost.

Council approved funding of $6,000 for 2023, for the non-profit organization at their meeting Monday, a 26.32 per cent increase from the current amount of $4,750.

Battlefords Humane Society’s Michelle Spark, manager and board member, made a plea for added financial help when she presented as a delegation at the meeting.

Spark said the organization has not asked for an increase since 2016.

“I believe we have always had a good working relationship with the Town of Battleford, and I look forward to continuing to work together for the wellbeing of the animals in our community,” she said.

Fire investigation

Commercial property considered total loss after late night fire in North Battleford

5h ago

Battlefords North Stars

'The North Stars have always been very important to me': Martin Smith hired as new head coach

21h ago

Sounding the alarm

Sask. NDP highlights red flags on Sask. Party platform

Oct 13, 2024

Spark said the cost to the humane society for vaccinations, deworming, veterinary treatment if needed, food and water, exercise and keeping the animals clean, as well as the respective staffing and utilities costs, amounts to on average $100 per day per animal.

The Battlefords Humane Society operates with donations from the Town of Battleford and the City of North Battleford. It also receives a fee-for-service from the R.M. of Meota and the Village of Cochin on a per-animal basis. As well, it obtains income from its animal adoptions, obedience training, fundraising and donations.

In a letter to the town, the humane society’s treasurer Laurel Fauth, said the organization was impacted by fundraising constraints during the COVID situation, as well as inflationary pressures, which became worse in recent months.

The Battlefords Humane Society also reported its intake numbers are going up.

“It has been a very busy year for us, in which we have already accepted 50 animals from Battleford just to the end of September, which is nearly equal to the 2021 yearly (January to December) total of 59,” Fauth stated.

She noted, as an interim adjustment, the organization is asking for the town contribution to be increased to $1,000 per month, for an annual contract of $12,000, “to better reflect our financial reality.”

Town CAO Ash Alam said in his report the humane society’s ask of a rise of over 150 per cent “is a very high increase request for our municipality.”

Administration instead recommended the town offer a more conservative increase of $1,250, to bring the annual funding up to $6,000 for 2023 only. The increase will be reflected in the town’s operating budget for next year.

Council accepted administration’s proposal.

Members also said they would like to see some numbers from the humane society on how many people from the town are using its services in relation to the town’s contribution, before making any decisions on the funding amount for 2024 and beyond.

Mayor Ames Leslie said following the meeting that council was glad to help the humane society with some type of increase for 2023.

“I think council is very much in support of the humane society,” he said. “I’m not too sure, without seeing more documents or any information, that council is ready to jump right to the ask of the $12,000 to the humane society. But they were more than willing to jump up to $6,000 for this next year.”

–

angela.brown@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @battlefordsNOW