The Humane Society Hastings Prince Edward is facing a “perfect storm” and is asking Belleville council and other municipalities to help.
Chair of the Society’s Board of Directors Greg Sudds says the cost of looking after animals has increased by close to 60% so far this year compared to last year while more animals are being turned in for care.
It’s expected it will face a $550,000 operating deficit next year on top of a $141,000 shortfall this year.
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“We’re basically in a bit of a tsunami in terms of intakes. We’re at the point where we’ve had to turn people away just because of the fact we’re at capacity and with that it means that we turn down revenue.”
The Society also said pound fees coming to them from Belleville and other member municipalities are far lower than in most other communities.
Last year Belleville, through pound fees, paid the Society $48,000 while the cost of caring for the 279 animals brought in by Belleville Animal Control Officers was $230,000.
In 2021, the City of Belleville agreed to a $1 million dollar interest-free loan for the Humane Society from the City’s reserves.
The Humane Society borrowed $664,000 of that but now is asking to be given the remaining $336,000, so the total borrowed would be $1 million, and that the $1 million loan be forgiven.
The Peterborough Humane Society gets 38% of its revenue from pound contracts while locally member municipalities’ contracts only supply 8% of Humane Society Hastings Prince Edward’s revenue. Fifty three per cent of the local Society’s revenue is provided by donations and bequests while only 22% of Peterborough’s budget comes from donations.
Council decided to have staff prepare a report on options available to help the Humane Society.
