Firefighters calendar raises $21K for Whitehorse animal shelter

The Mae Bachur Animal Shelter in Whitehorse has received a $21,000 donation thanks to the sale of charity calendars.

The Whitehorse Firefighters Charitable Association presented the cheque on Monday to the Humane Society Yukon, the organization that runs the shelter.

"It is overwhelming, emotional, I actually burst into tears," says shelter manager Betty Irwin. "We are so grateful for the help from the firefighters."

She says operating expenses are high and the money will be put to good use.

The 2015 calendar features shirtless firefighters posing with animals from the shelter. It's proven to be a hot seller, the calendars are sold out.

"We didn't expect anything like this amount of donations," says Chris Guffey, president of the Humane Society Yukon.

He credits the firefighters association and local businesses who covered the cost of producing the calendars. 

Guffey says half of the money raised will be used for facility improvements, the other half will go toward medical expenses, food and other animal shelter needs. 

In the last month about 30 animals have been placed into the animal shelter.