SPCA receives outpouring of donations

The president of the Saint John SPCA said Saturday there has been an outpouring of donations since people heard the shelter might be forcedto close.

Melanie McElman said the shelter needs support to avoid shutting downand laying off its 15 employees.Closing would also require finding foster homes orashelter for 75 cats and 4 dogs. If that wasn't possible,the animals would beput to sleep.

McElman said people are responding to the call for help.

"We've seen two children come in with their proceeds from their birthday party to give. Rather than gifts they collected money and brought in cat food," she said.

"And it ranges from that to $500 cheques to $1,000 cheques to $10 cheques. People do not want to see this shelter close."

In July, the shelter was forced tocut its executive director positionto keep its doors open.

The animal shelter has been in trouble sincethe city slashed its funding in half in March. The shelter also recently moved into a larger location on Bayside Drive.

The SPCA was one of several agencies that faced cutbacks in Saint Johns 2012 budget, which eliminated$9 million in services across the board.

In 2011, the SPCA received $160,000 from Saint John andstill posted a $50,000 deficit.

This year the agencyasked for a $200,000 contract; insteadit received $80,000in a new contract in May, for dog control only. The city also paid$18,000 to tear down the animal rescue leagues former building on Taylor Avenue.

City staff had been handling all calls about animal control and animal licences since the last contract ended. Some citizens had expressed concern about what would be done to fill the void.

The SPCA usually receives between 10 and 15 calls a day about strays or nuisance animals, officials have said.