The Lac La Biche Regional Humane Society doesn't have an official shelter yet, but board members are still aiming to give animals in need a place to stay in the interim.
The Lac La Biche Regional Humane Society doesn't have an official shelter yet, but board members are still aiming to give animals in need a place to stay in the interim.
The Society is in the process of creating an animal fostering program that will put roofs over animals' heads in between the time when they're received and when they're adopted.
Lac La Biche County currently contracts a local kennel, Scratch N' Sniff, to serve as a dog pound, but there's no similar option for cats or other animals in the community yet. Society officials are hoping to fill that gap, but there are some bureaucratic steps that need to be taken first.
“We felt it was crucial to have a proper policy and process in place, as well as ensure we have appropriate insurance coverage before rolling it out,” said chairperson MJ Siebold.
Insurance and recruitment efforts will come after the fostering program has been officially approved, which Siebold says is one of the goals of the organization's next monthly board meeting.
In the meantime, the community at large has shown an interest in the group's doings, she says.
“There has been some interest, and we have a number of people who have put forward their names for volunteering in various capacities,” she said. “As soon as it is ratified by the board, we'll begin to actively promote and recruit in the region.”
Exactly who can apply to become an animal's “foster owner” still has to be determined, she says. Board members have already discussed home inspections, veterinarian references, compulsory animal vaccinations and other criteria, but the precise requirements for fostering should be finalized at the next board meeting.
The Society will gladly recruit as many “foster owners” as it can find, Siebold says.
“We can only hope that we have more foster homes than we need, but we'll do what we can with whatever resources we have,” she told the POST.
Even after the Society has acquired a proper shelter, it's likely the fostering program would be maintained, but with a slightly different mandate.
“I would think it would continue to a lesser degree after we have a shelter,” Siebold said, “as a means of transitioning animals, measuring temperament before placement, as well as giving an animal a break from a long-term kennel situation.”
