Soaring animal care costs prompts Timmins humane society to create emergency fund

The Timmins and District Humane Society sees hundreds of animals every year that require expensive medicines and emergency surgeries. But the organization is struggling to pay for them.

It recently established an emergency medical fund to ensure animals in their care get the help they need.

Right now, there is a new litter of kittens at the humane society looking for someone to love. There are also some dogs who’ve been waiting longer than most at the shelter.

And sometimes there are pets who need medical attention their owners can’t afford and they end up in the care of the humane society.

Officials said that’s happening more often than usual due to the current high cost of living.

“The cost of veterinary care has skyrocketed since COVID,” said Lynn Michaud from the society.

The Timmins and District Humane Society recently established an emergency medical fund to ensure animals in their care get the help they need. (Photo from video)

“And now we're because of COVID, we've seen a huge increase of the animal population. Like, from my experience, it's brought us back 15 years and so there are more animals out there that we can house.”

Michaud said the humane society’s funding primarily comes from donations and fundraising events. She said it’s a battle every day to keep the doors open because all the money it has goes towards the animals.

“It's difficult for the staff when your job is to save animals. Your mission is to make a difference,” Michaud said.

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“And you have animals that come in and it's the dollar that sometimes makes the decision as to whether we can or cannot help.”

As a result, the humane society has established an emergency fund to help pay for expensive surgeries and treatments when it has no time to fundraise.

The fund is named ‘Tuco’s Trust’ after a dog who required extensive surgeries and remains in constant foster care.

The society said no animal should lose its life just because there’s not enough money to help. It also encourages people who want pets to have funds set aside for emergencies or get pet insurance.