Humane Society facing funding shortfall

The Ottawa Humane Society is facing a $45,000 shortfall after a problem with its Christmas fundraising drive.

If it can't make up the money, about 25 per cent of its $200,000 goal, it may have to cut services, executive director Bruce Roney said Friday.

"We're talking about advanced surgeries, for example," he said. "It's demoralizing when you don't have the kind of resources that you need to do the best that you can for every single animal that comes through our doors."

Usually, the Christmas drive is the most lucrative of the year, but a printing problem meant the mailings didn't make it to 25,000 homes in time for the holidays.

However, as the news spread, some animal lovers rushed to the society. One of these was Peter Knowles, whose family cat died of a stroke on Christmas Day.

"Fraidy cat. My wife had her for 12 years," he said. "She was very close to her. We decided we should make a donation in memory of her."

Roney is concerned, but philosophical.

"Doing more with less is a way of life at the Ottawa Humane Society, so we'll get by."

Although it's too late for a 2010 tax receipt for a donation, he hopes the society can bridge the shortfall in 2011.