Whitehorse council supports pet shelter's land request
Mae Bachur animal shelter expansion passes 1st and 2nd reading
Whitehorse city council appears set to approve plans to allow the Mae Bachur animal shelter to expand.
The request from Yukon's humane society to add to add 2,300 square metres to the shelter's lease unanimously passed first and second reading Monday night.
Society president Hoby Irwin told council the shelter desperately needs the extra room for outdoor runs.
"We have several dogs that could be sheltered outside but we can't do that now with our present set-up," he said. "Also we need an area for animals that are in segregation, for various diseases and stuff, to have an outside area, which we don't have now. Any animal that gets parvo, for instance, is basically locked in a cage inside and we have really no choice in the matter."
Irwin said the shelter has provided for 97 cats and 236 dogs so far this year.
Volunteer John Talsma worked on the vacant lots, to make what was swampland suitable for the animals to use outside.
"All I gotta say is somebody has to voice an opinion for the animals of this town. I think this shelter has done wonderful work and I sure would appreciate it if you could give them a 10-year lease there."
Councillor Betty Irwin applauded the new board for making it through a tough year and continuing to fight for dogs and cats that don't have homes.
"I think we've had what, four times the shelter's been too full to accept more animals, and that's when animals get tossed over the fence or tied up to the front yard and we don't know what else happens to them."
The shelter's request will come up for third reading next week.