The Capital Regional District (CRD) Animal Shelter received a generous bequest of over a half a million dollars from a couple who wanted to honour their relationship with their cat.
In a media release, the CRD said the estate of Francis Gordon Ainsworth bequeathed $518,000 to the animal shelter.
“Mr. Ainsworth, and his partner Mr. Carter who predeceased him, donated annually to the CRD Animal Shelter as a way to honour their relationship with their much loved pet who provided so much comfort and joy—Whiskey the cat,” the release read.
Ainsworth and Carter learned about the work of the CRD at a community outreach event where the animal shelter was promoting its work.
“Inspired by staff’s passion for animal welfare, they became annual donors and were pleased to be able to assist with providing new beds for dogs, hide and perch boxes for the cats, and to help fund the care of extreme medical cases.”
This is a welcome donation for a shelter that does so much good work.
The CRD Animal Shelter is located along the Pat Bay Highway and offers temporary shelter for lost pets and operates an adoption program for stray, lost, abandoned or injured animals.
The CRD shelters dogs, cats and livestock—like chickens, roosters, or quail—and smaller critters like hamsters, rats, gerbils, birds and snakes.
Currently, staff at the animal shelter are in the process of developing outreach programs to assist in the reuniting of animals with their owners.
Animals brought into the shelter are often scanned for a microchip or tattoo.
In 2020, only 60% of animals that were found lost were claimed by their owners with almost 200 animals requiring medical care and new homes.
The CRD shelter vaccinates and microchips, as well as spays and neuters, any unclaimed animals before being placed for adoption.
The CRD says it has provided emergency medical care including spaying and neutering over 400 found animals with more than $150,000 in veterinary expenses in the past four years.
