Running at max capacity, Humane Society’s Bark in the Park to raise funds

A big fundraiser returns for the Lakeland Humane Society this weekend.

Bark in the Park at the new Humane Society location invites people and their pets for a day of fun, food, and entertainment on Saturday.

This works as a way to raise dollars to help out with operating the facility, which relies solely on donations.

In fact, shelter manager Danielle Donovan says, the event is free to attend, and helps out what they do.

“We take in over 500 animals a year here, cats and dogs combined,” Donovan told Lakeland Connect. 

“We depend on the public to keep this place going. I find this summer being here. We are overrun with animals. It’s been operating at max capacity for several months now. Adoptions have really, really slowed down. So we’re even encouraging people to come in the day of the event if they’re looking to adopt and speak to the staff here.” 

Included in the day’s activities is a barbeque and food truck, a market with vendors there from noon until 8:00pm, and bouncy castles for kids.

Mixed in is live entertainment with the band Tiago James from 4:00pm-7:00pm.

Kids can also participate in a scavenger hunt as well as doggie themed activities.

It all takes place at the new location for the Lakeland Humane Society at 43017 Highway 55, a couple minutes west of Cold Lake.

This has given them much more room to operate, while being closeby to neighbouring trails to allow for these taken-in animals to be walked.

But the problem of overfilled shelters and SPCAs is not just a Lakeland issue, it seems to be happening all across Canada.

In particular, the Humane Society sees dogs that have been left behind, and costs for medical procedures on top of basic care and food can be a costly factor whether or not they pets find a new home.

“The animals we have in here are the ones that other people didn’t want. And so you always have to find that special adopter for that certain dog, and sometimes it takes a little bit of extra time,” said Donovan. 

“But I mean, they all do end up getting adopted.”

Bark in the Park has been a steady fundraiser for over five years. They hope to see it busy with families and pets on Saturday.