CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — Elaine Gascon of Charlottetown has always been surrounded by the love of animals, so she decided six years ago it was time to give something back.
That’s when Gascon became a volunteer at the P.E.I. Humane Society’s animal shelter on the Sherwood Road. And she has loved every minute of it.
“Well, I’m an animal person,’’ Gascon told The Guardian on Monday as she attended to one of the shelter’s many cat kennels.
“I have three cats from here at home and I have a very active golden retriever puppy. I would probably have more if I could, but I can’t, so I come here (to volunteer).’’
Gascon has been surrounded by animals her entire life, having grown up on a dairy farm in New York before moving to P.E.I.
“I got my first dog from the shelter in Buffalo, New York, where I lived, and I had her for 14 and a half years. I always said I was going to give back a little of what she gave me and so that’s why I am here.’’
Gascon volunteers at the shelter three mornings per week, walking and feeding as many as seven dogs and cleaning up to 40 cat kennels as well as quarters for the rabbits. She is really taken with one cat, Mr. Kessel, who likes to have someone sit with him while he eats so they always spend breakfast together.
“Some of them just need the little extra human touch for them to come out of their shell and do what they need to do to get adopted.’’
Jennifer Harkness, development co-ordinator for the humane society, said between volunteers, full-time staff, shelter attendants, animal protection officers and a veterinarian, there are 12 people who work at the shelter on most days, 365 days a year.
While the shelter relies heavily on its volunteer staff, the humane society does have dedicated full-time employees.
Emma Turner said her shift is busy from the time it starts at 8:30 a.m. until she leaves at 4:30 p.m.
Turner begins her rounds by checking to make sure none of the animals have diarrhea and haven’t vomited overnight. Then necessary medications are dished out before they make sure all the dogs are walked and fed.
“Once everybody is cleaned and fed and medicated, it’s kind of hit and miss (as to what is next),’’ Turner said. “We’re go, go, go all day.’’
Their daily routine could get altered by something as simple as a stray animal or a surrendered animal that is brought in.
“We take them in, get them set up in a kennel and then we let the doctor see them first, if we can. If they’re good to go, they can go up for adoption and we’ll do an adoption file of them with their photo.’’
The shelter has its own veterinarian on staff.
Maddie Delaney, another full-time staffer, said the shelter may not be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, but it’s always busy inside.
Delaney said many of those that work at the shelter also act as foster parents for the guests at the shelter.
She added that while many people think they would love to be around these animals all the time, sometimes the stories have a sad ending.
“There is always a darker side to it,’’ Delaney said, “and a more challenging side (such as) seeing animals we can’t rehome because of health or behavioural issues. It’s definitely a job where it’s hard to go home at the end of the day and forget about it. It’s a hard pill for a lot of people to swallow.’’
However, Delaney said it’s an unbelievable atmosphere to work in.
“Everyone here does their absolute best. There is such a high level of compassion and empathy for your co-workers and the public coming in. As much as you know it’s not always going to work out, every single person (here) does their absolute best to make sure that it’s as happy an outcome as possible.’’
By the numbers
The following statistics were provided by the P.E.I. Humane Society:
- 38 animals currently being cared for
- 11 of those animals are currently in foster care
- 10 of them are currently up for adoption
- In February, 54 animals were adopted while another seven animals were happily returned to their owners
- In 2018, 838 animals were adopted from the shelter while 184 animals were happily returned to their owners
