Several of Fort SmithSA国际影视传媒檚 four-legged residents are looking for new homes. Those on two legs will soon have the chance to meet them.

On May 5, the Fort Smith Animal Society (FSAS) SA国际影视传媒� the communitySA国际影视传媒檚 animal shelter SA国际影视传媒� will host an adoption drive. The event, which will occur in the dog park outside the Northern Hound Supply pet store, will be the first of its kind in town.

SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檒l utilize the dog park so people can meet the dogs in a less stressful environment,SA国际影视传媒� said FSAS vice-president Alana McGrath. SA国际影视传媒淭hatSA国际影视传媒檚 how people sort of get to see how a dog is, and see if they have that special spark that connects them.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淚 think itSA国际影视传媒檚 a really good way to get the dogsSA国际影视传媒� faces out there,SA国际影视传媒� added Anna Gervais, the owner of Northern Hound Supply and a volunteer with FSAS.

The FSAS kennel is currently home to about eight dogs. While it housed a whopping 27 dogs during last yearSA国际影视传媒檚 wildfire evacuation, when many animals were left in the community to fend for themselves, eight is essentially the maximum that staff can manage.

Considering that number is likely to grow as puppies begin to arrive with the warmer spring weather, both McGrath and Gervais are hopeful residents will show up to the adoption drive and consider taking a dog home.

SA国际影视传媒淚 really hope people come,SA国际影视传媒� said Gervais. SA国际影视传媒淎t the same time, thereSA国际影视传媒檚 a lot of people who already have two or three dogs, because everybodySA国际影视传媒檚 a dog lover.SA国际影视传媒�

The simple fact, according to McGrath, is that if people donSA国际影视传媒檛 start adopting dogs, FSAS may cease to exist, which would mean Fort SmithSA国际影视传媒檚 bylaw enforcement department would be responsible for the stray animals in town.

With that, comes SA国际影视传媒渢he risk of more euthanasia,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淚f we can try to save some of these beautiful dogs, that would be wonderful.

SA国际影视传媒淚f we canSA国际影视传媒檛 pull this off, then it will become a town problem. It will be their burden to bear, and the dogs, the animals will suffer.SA国际影视传媒�

A full kennel isnSA国际影视传媒檛 the only problem FSAS is facing. The organization continues to struggle to find committed volunteers.

On April 25, the organization was set to host a volunteer recruitment night at the local recreation centre in hopes of tackling that problem.

SA国际影视传媒淎t this point in time, if we canSA国际影视传媒檛 build up our volunteer base, thereSA国际影视传媒檚 a very real chance that we canSA国际影视传媒檛 continue,SA国际影视传媒� said McGrath, who works as a nurse when she isnSA国际影视传媒檛 helping run the shelter. SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 a scary position to be in.SA国际影视传媒�

She said she has contacted Fort SmithSA国际影视传媒檚 hamlet office about the possibility of creating a single paid position at the shelter. A paid employee could SA国际影视传媒減rovide continuity of care to the animalsSA国际影视传媒� and handle other tasks, such as marketing, which has become GervaisSA国际影视传媒� department.

However, SA国际影视传媒渋tSA国际影视传媒檚 just not in the budgetSA国际影视传媒� for the community,SA国际影视传媒� McGrath said. SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檙e right back to square one.SA国际影视传媒�

Much like the hamlet, finances are also a concern for the shelter.

FSAS charges a $250 fee when people adopt animals. Those fees SA国际影视传媒渙nly justSA国际影视传媒� cover the shelterSA国际影视传媒檚 operation costs, according to McGrath.

SA国际影视传媒淚t barely covers the cost of the vet care,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

All of FSASSA国际影视传媒檚 problems would be magnified by another evacuation, which is on many Fort Smith residentsSA国际影视传媒� minds as another wildfire season begins.

McGrath, who stayed in town last summer due to her nursing duties, said she and her FSAS colleagues were barely able to manage the crisis, and they are not in a position to do so again if the problem recurs.

SA国际影视传媒淟ast year, this town was lucky that the handful of people left behind were able to cope with the animal situation,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淭here were animals left in houses, at properties that we went to, as well as the kennel. ThereSA国际影视传媒檚 no plan if that occurs again. I donSA国际影视传媒檛 see how that can happen again. We need people to realize that if thereSA国际影视传媒檚 an evacuation, they need to take their animals.

SA国际影视传媒淎 lot of people didnSA国际影视传媒檛 plan to leave their animals, but didnSA国际影视传媒檛 have time to coordinate. Now theySA国际影视传媒檝e had the winter to think about what theySA国际影视传媒檙e going to do, and how theySA国际影视传媒檙e going to manage those animals.SA国际影视传媒�

There is no question it is a precarious time for FSAS. Nevertheless, in light of its volunteer recruitment efforts, and with its first adoption drive on the horizon, there is a chance things may soon improve.

SA国际影视传媒淚f we can find a couple of homes for these animals [on May 5], that will be a big move,SA国际影视传媒� McGrath said.