BC SPCA Victoria branch manager in the doghouse to help animals

For the first time in the eight years she has managed the BC SPCA Victoria Branch, Penny Stone will be on the other side of the bars when she gets locked into a dog kennel for three hours on Friday, September 9.

"It's the least I can do to help the many needy animals in our community," says Stone, who is aiming to raise $5,000. "I am asking people to make a donation to the Victoria BC SPCA to help me help those who cannot speak for or care for themselves. I'll be locked in from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm, and you can help by donating funds to free me from the kennel. You can take me for a walk for five minutes for a $20 donation. But the more you donate the more it will help all the animals at the Victoria shelter. Some animals only spend a short time in the shelter kennel, others are there a long time. We would like all the animals to come in to be freed from their kennels and find permanent homes."

Stone describes one of the animals who needs help. Buddy is a six-year-old lab cross who came into the Victoria BC SPCA shelter last month. Buddy should be enjoying normal dog pursuits such as running around catching balls, however, he is now immobilized due to an awful accident. Buddy is afraid of loud noises and two months ago, when blasting rattled his Victoria home, Buddy plummeted out of a third-storey window, landing on concrete below his building. Buddy's injuries included ruptured tendons and ligaments that required a $5,000 surgery. Buddy's previous guardian did not seek medical treatment for the dog until four weeks after the incident.

"Buddy's story inspired me to set a goal of $5,000, however, that amount covers just one surgery for one needy animal. We hope Victoria animal lovers will help us raise more than that. They can also help by participating in or pledging to people participating in our annual BC SPCA & Scotiabank Paws for a Cause walk this coming Sunday, September 11," Stone adds.

The BC SPCA is a non-profit organization funded primarily by public donations. Our mission is to prevent cruelty and to promote the welfare of animals through a wide range of services, including cruelty investigations, emergency rescue and treatment, sheltering and adoption of homeless and abused animals, humane education, advocacy, farm animal welfare, spay/neuter programs, and wildlife rescue and rehabilitation.