The Barrie OSPCA is Innisfil's pound
By Wendy Soloduik

This is Cream. She is the shelter's oldest cat resident. In fact, she had a litter of kittens, who have all been adopted before her. Can you give Cream a good home? Photos by Wendy Soloduik

For the past three years, the Barrie branch of the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (OSPCA), otherwise known as the Humane Society, has been the recipient of Innisfil's lost dogs and cats.

Getting this information to you is important, because if your pet goes missing, it will be held in the shelter for only three to five days before going up for adoption.

"We have limited space here," said branch manager Sandra Kiyonaga, "so after an animal has been with us a few days, we test them to ensure they are a good candidate for adoption, and then make them available. Most of the animals we get from the Innisfil area are not collected by their rightful owners. That may be because they just don't know where to look for them."

If the animal does go up for adoption, it it 'altered', checked over for general health, and named. Usually the turn-around with dogs is pretty fast, since new owners can expect to pay only $199.80, or $99.00 for senior dogs over five years, for the adoption, regardless of the breed.

This is 'Cooper'. He is a Labra-Doodle, or Lab and Poodle cross. He needs a good home, with a family that can train him, as he suffers from separation anxiety. He is hypo-allergenic and only 9 months old.

On average, three to four dogs at any one time, up to as many as 10, are in the Barrie Branch of the OSPCA that were collected from the Innisfil area.

If the dog is claimed, the owner is generally fined for their animal 'Running at Large' and will also face boarding fees. The collection of adoption and bordering fees helps to pay for the on-going work of the Humane Society. Recently, however, the shelter lost their food sponsor, as the results of "cut backs" by their supplier. The Barrie OSPCA is now appealing to the public to help keep the animals in our pound well fed, until they can find permanent homes.

Cat food brands required are Wiskas and Friskies, and dog food brands are Pedigree and Kirkland (found at Costco). Cash donations for food are also welcome.

In other shelter news, the Barrie OSPCA is looking for a new home. Due to space constrictions at their current location, the organization is hoping for a donation of land, on which they could build a new facility in the Barrie area. Once the land is available, the BArrie OSPCA will begin a capital campaign to fund the building of the new structure.

"A new building will give us more space to house our animals," said Kiyonaga. "We need a proper space for small animals, a meet and greet area for people who already have other dogs, and proper dog runs."

The shelter is currently looking for volunteers to clean cat cages. Eligible persons would be able to bend down to proper clean lower level cages.

Also of interest is the "I Can't Wear it Anywhere Else" gala fundraiser to be held by the OSPCA on November 3, at the Lions Gate Banquet Hall in Barrie.

Dress-up in your old bridesmaid gowns or John Travolta suits.

Tickets are only $50 per person, and includes a three course meal, DJ, wine and a fun evening out.

There will be prizes for the best dressed.

All proceeds support the shelter.

For more information on the Barrie OSPCA, or any of their functions, please call them at 705 728-7311.

Shelter hours are:

Sat/Sun: noon - 4

Mon-Tues: 11 a.m - 7 p.m.

Wed-Fri: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. Support Innisfil's shelter!!!