Orcas contributes over $27,000 for operation of the animal shelter

“I was amazed by the generosity of this community,” exulted Cindi Gould, president of the board of directors of the Orcas Animal Protection Society.

Gould expressed her gratitude to those who attended the fundraiser and auction at the dinner and auction which took place June 21 at the The Inn at Ship Bay. The event raised more than $27,000, with over $21,000 coming from the auction.

The money will go almost entirely for operation of the shelter. Since the annual budget is $43,000, this should put the shelter in good shape “well into next year,” said shelter manager Marsha Waunch. “This makes a huge difference for us,” she added, noting that the Animal Protection Society hopes to make this an annual event.

The shelter is able to keep expenses at a minimum because it is staffed entirely by volunteers. It was also recently awarded a $1,200 grant to fund expansion of cat housing through conversion of a hallway into two cat rooms, and so it can purchase cat cages for the overflow in quarantine and isolation. The grant was provided by the Orcas Island Community Foundation.

Virtually all of the budget goes for utilities, medical expenses, pet food and kitty litter, Waunch said. She described the shelter “as one of the most cost-efficient operations” anywhere.

During its year and a half in operation, the shelter has provided shelter and care for 274 cats and 106 dogs.

It has also neutered 43 feral cats, providing an important benefit to local wildlife. “It means birds are not being eaten,” Waunch said.