Meet Ebby! She’s a beautiful 6 month old border collie X up for adoption and Penny Stone is the Executive Director of the Victoria Humane Society. Formerly the manager of the BC SPCA, Stone joined forces with Carol Broad in 2013 to found an organization that fosters and adopts homeless, sick or injured dogs. Read on to learn more about this new organization and to hear Stone’s advice for pet-lovers thinking about adopting or fostering an animal.

1. What is the mandate of the Victoria Humane Society?

The Victoria Humane Society was started when a few like-minded people decided they could do more to help animals in the community by forming their own non-profit. We live by the mantra “Rescue, Rehome and Rehabilitate!” Our mission is to provide leadership in improving the lives of animals by alleviating their suffering or neglect. We do this by rescuing, sheltering, healing, adopting and advocating for animals in need, while inspiring community action and compassion on their behalf.

2. What plans are in store for the Victoria Humane Society’s future?

Our first step is to purchase a property where we can have a proper shelter. We are currently working out of foster homes, and we need to have our own space just to cope with all the calls we are getting. In our first three months we rescued, rehabilitated and rehomed over 100 animals. It just keeps getting busier and busier and we definitely need a shelter to house all the animals in! Within 5 years we hope to have our own spay and neuter clinic up and running and an onsite rehabilitation center.

3. Do you have any upcoming fundraising events?

We have two big fundraisers coming up. On March 19 the Garricks Head Pub and Salt Spring Island Ales will be hosting a fundraiser for the Victoria Humane Society. The brewery will feature two special casks of Blood Orange Golden Ale and partial proceeds for every pint sold will go directly to the Humane Society.  And on April 4^th, Max’s Furniture will host a fundraiser from 5pm to 8pm. It will be a social mixer and we will be having a silent auction at it and it is shaping up to be an amazing event!

4. What does your typical foster/adoptable dog look like?

They all look so totally different. We get so many people who are amazed at the dogs we have. We get in puppies, to seniors dogs, and we have had quite a few purebred dogs in too! People are expecting all rescue dogs to look the same or be certain stereotypical breeds but we get in every different breed you can imagine.

5.  What is your #1 piece of advice for people who are thinking about adopting or fostering dogs?

You will never regret it. There is nothing so rewarding as seeing in an animal’s eyes the change you can make by just being there and caring for them. Opening your hearts and homes to these animals can be hard but it can mean the difference between them living and them dying alone and afraid.

You can visit the Humane Society’s website at www.victoriahumanesociety.com