COVID-19 has affected everyone, and it's made it financially challenging for many non-profits. This is also true for the Pembina Valley Humane Society.

Although many of their fundraisers have been affected by the virus, PR Chair Holly Throne says there are ways people can still support the shelter, and not just financially.

"We're always looking for financial contributions, and we can turn $1 into $3 with the resources we have to get the supplies we need. But, we do have a lot of kittens, and we're looking for open-hearted people who can foster a kitten or two. A shelter is no place for a kitten to grow up."

The shelter supplies all the kitten materials like a litterbox, litter, and food. Thorne adds the only thing they want these kittens to grow up in a home, where they can experience being a kitten.

"A lot of the time, when people find kittens, they are feral because they've been on their own for too long."

Fostering is incredibly helpful at the shelter, but they still need to have a connection with the community. 

DOGust, Shelter Dogs, Steps 4 Pets Walkathon, and a new fundraiser Empty Cans = Full Bellies are events held by PVHS.

DOGust is the universal birthday for shelter dogs that August 1 had pet owners gather together to celebrate their furry companions in the lot behind the shelter. Steps 4 Pets Walkathon takes place on August 22 and is the shelter's largest fundraiser. With it being so vital for the organization, Thorne says they needed to find a way to make it work.

"We always said we were going to postpone because we didn't want to write it off completely. It's one of our biggest events of the year, and we're so excited to be able to do it without a lot of changes. It's going to be a bit more lowkey than we've had in the past, we're not going to have vendors, but we'll still be able to go to Morden park, have that walk and let people see us."

She says when dozens of people are walking together with their pets, it can really help bring awareness to what the humane society does. The event so far has been able to raise over $2,000.
She does want to remind people when they do attend to make sure they are socially distancing.

Through the new fundraiser Empty Cans = Full Bellies, people can donate their empty alcoholic beverage cans on August 8, which will then be handed in by the shelter to add to their coffers to raise funds for the animals.

Although the future is still uncertain, Thorne says they will continue to truck along with the hope they'll be able to get back into their norm as further restrictions are loosened.