It was a sweet treat for the Sowchea School Spirit Club (SSSC) who participated in the SPCA/Humane Society Cupcake Day Monday, Feb. 23.
Gail Hiebert, teacher and Luisa Garza, humane society volunteer, helped the SSSC students bake dozens of cupcakes and together made 430 tasty treats to fill orders from businesses, other schools, mills, and stores. Everyone’s efforts resulted in raising $1,067 for the Fort St. James Humane Society to help fund the Canadian Animal Assistance Team (CAAT) who will be in Fort St. James again this year June 12 - 16 to provide a free spay and neuter clinic for dogs and cats in the area.
“This is such an amazing service,” Hiebert said. “Last year ten vets and vet assistants came to Fort. St. James from all over Canada on their own vacation time.”
The CAAT team pays for all their own traveling and operation costs. The only cost to the FSJ Humane Society for the free spay and neuter days is CAAT’s accommodation and food which will now be lesser due to money raised from the cupcakes. A dog or cat spay and neuter would ordinarily cost hundreds of dollars each and the CAAT team knows that for some people this cost is out of reach.
“Money from the fundraiser last year was used to pay for the CAAT team’s accommodations and meals. They finance their own transportation and so it’s a volunteer thing on their end too. CAAT does an amazing job. They spayed and neutered and had free check ups. This year we were lucky enough for them to confirm ahead of time that they are doing another spay and neuter clinic here. We are very lucky for them to come back,” Garza said.
Last year the SSSC kids brought cupcakes to school and sold them at school and to local businesses through the Fort St. James Humane Society FaceBook page. More than $600 was raised and CAAT operated on more than 120 dogs and cats from Fort St. James and surrounding areas.
“Having the kids involved is also educational because they know what their raising the money for and their happy to help the animals,” Garza said.
To donate to the Fort St. James Humane Society in support of this program, send your donations to the Fort St. James Humane Society, Box 348, Fort St. James. Message from SPAC: If you are thinking of adding a pet to your life, please consider adopting!