By Scott Roblin

Medicine Hat SPCA slated to surpass $50,000 fundraiser goal

May 28, 2018 | 11:12 AM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – Medicine Hat residents and their furry friends were sent to jail on Saturday, but it was all for a good cause.

The community turned out to support the Medicine Hat SPCA with their biggest fundraiser of the year, their annual ‘Katch N’ Kennel’ event.

This year’s edition saw 25 inmates locked into the kennels at the SPCA, needing to raise bail money through donations that go back to supporting the shelter.

Along with the inmate fundraiser, the SPCA expanded their program to include a fun festival that featured vendors, live music, and food trucks.

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SPCA president Kristina Segall said they’re looking to make the ‘Katch N’ Kennel’ their primary means of raising money each year.

“We really want to get to only having one annual event and we want something that the City of Medicine Hat looks forward to,” said Segall. “So, that’s why the whole decision with the fun festival came, and we needed a big fundraiser because we wanted to raise $50,000.”

As of Monday morning, the event raised $46,000 through donations and pledges from the 25 inmates. However with online donations and vendor kickbacks still needing to be counted, it’s safe to say that the SPCA will reach their goal.

Segall said thanks to the community support, they’ll be able to cover off close to a month of expenses.

“Our operational expenses at the SPCA are over $700,000 a year so it’s a lot,” she said. “So, $50,000 would be just short of a month for us of operational expenses.”

According to Segall, it’s a good feeling knowing that the public is taking an interest in the challenges that surround operating a SPCA.

“Anyone who has ever had to take an animal to a vet you know how expensive it is, we have to take 1,000 animals to the vet,” she said. “So, it’s just amazing that people understand the expenses that go into it, and then the care that we go above and beyond for our animals.”

Two events are coming up shortly for SPCA staff including a fundraising barbecue at the Develco Open House in Redcliff on Friday, and a ‘Painting and Pets’ event on June 10 in Kin Coulee Park.