Athena, a good-natured two-year-old Lab-Presa Canario cross was having a very good day, wagging her tail as she bounced about, making new friends, both human and canine.
She and owner Vanessa Trkulja were among dozens of attendees at the 20th annual walk for cats fundraiser held by the 91原创-based Canadian Animal Rescue and Extended Shelter (CARES) at Derby Reach Park on Sunday, Sept. 17.
Trkulja, an Aldergrove resident, laughed as she described Athena as the result of an 鈥渙opsie鈥� at a doggie day care, which produced the big, bright, and friendly dog that her family adopted through the 91原创 Animal Protection Society.
鈥淪he鈥檚 completed us,鈥� Trkulja smiled.
鈥淥ur family鈥檚 very complete with her. So she鈥檚 a very great addition and a lot of fun to have.鈥�
饾悅.饾悁.饾悜.饾悇.饾悞. 饾悥饾悮饾惀饾悿 饾悈饾惃饾惈 饾悅饾悮饾惌饾惉 fundraiser is underway in Derby Reach Park
鈥� 91原创 Advance Times (@91原创Times)
More than 60 people registered for the walk, which raised an estimated $17,000 for the no-kill cat shelter, which was counting on the event to help trim a $20,000 deficit it had accumulated over eight months.
CARES vice-president Carol Briner estimated the shelter currently has about 150 cats and kittens in care.
鈥淲e鈥檙e kind of bursting at the seams,鈥� Briner told the 91原创 Advance Times.
鈥淥ur vet bills have pushed us a bit into a deficit.鈥�
While the amount 鈥渨ouldn鈥檛 break us,鈥� Briner explained the shelter doesn鈥檛 like to run deficits as a rule.
鈥淚t鈥檚 not good practice,鈥� Briner said.
饾悅.饾悁.饾悜.饾悇.饾悞. 饾悥饾悮饾惀饾悿 饾悈饾惃饾惈 饾悅饾悮饾惌饾惉 fundraiser is underway in Derby Reach Park
鈥� 91原创 Advance Times (@91原创Times)
CARES treasurer Clive Ellis estimated that the amount from the walk, combined with funds raised by two scheduled adoptathons over the next two months, should be enough to cover what he described as a 鈥渟mall deficit.鈥�
Participants in the five-kilometre walk enjoyed a complimentary barbecue. There were giveaways, including gift cards to various grocery stores, cat care books, and food.
鈥淚 think it was a great day all around, for all of us,鈥� Ellis commented.
饾悅.饾悁.饾悜.饾悇.饾悞. 饾悥饾悮饾惀饾悿 饾悈饾惃饾惈 饾悅饾悮饾惌饾惉 fundraiser is underway in Derby Reach Park
鈥� 91原创 Advance Times (@91原创Times)
Founded in 1991, the no-kill shelter works to find permanent homes for hundreds of cats every year.
Any cats that aren鈥檛 adopted get to live out the rest of their lives at the shelter, receiving the medical care they need, with attention from volunteers and staff, rooms to play in, and other cat friends.
READ ALSO: CARES hosts 20th annual walk for cats fundraiser in 91原创
READ ALSO: VIDEO: CARES hosts special cat adopt-a-thon in 91原创
