Prince Rupert Wildlife Needs Help!
Donation protected
The Prince Rupert Wildlife Rehab Shelter is a volunteer organization that provides exceptional care to hundreds of injured animals every year due to the tireless efforts of the shelter's owners Nancy and Gunther Golina. This retired couple in their 80's (yes in their 80's) have been running the shelter for the past 26 years. Every year it costs approximately $45,000 to care for these animals including everything from vet bills, food, supplies, and medications, funds which Nancy and Gunther provide 75-80% from their own savings. The shelter does get many monetary donations from the small community of Prince Rupert as well as other donated goods and services but for the most part it comes directly from their generous and kindhearted pockets.
To them the animals always come first. Along with rescuing and rehabilitating over 700 wild animals a year the Golina's also provide homes for unwanted pets in the area, that the BC SPCA is unable to care for, and provide services to rehome these animals. They take in anything from birds, reptiles, and cats. Many, many cats. The shelter currently houses close to 30 domestic cats and feeds many more feral ones.
For the past 26 years the couple have been happy to do it all, working endlessly, and on call 24/7 in order to provide the best care possible. Recently, Gunther was hospitalized due to an infection possibly brought on by a scratch from an eagle in their care. Now having to do everything on her own, as well as take care of Gunther, Nancy admits she doesn't think they can do it alone for another busy spring/summer season. They have had many wonderful volunteers over the years and right now they are in need of a new working space for those volunteers. Extra funds would go towards the creation of a working space for shelter activities like food prep and sanitation separate from their living quarters as well as some much needed shelter maintenance.
In the summer Nancy uses a large trough outside for all the washing, including any cleansing needed for animals, like the heron pictured below who was the unfortunate victim of an oil spill. This is not ideal as it is. In the winter it only gets worse. When it's much too cold to be working with water outside all of the center's washing moves indoors. To the Golina's bathroom. Their family bathroom becomes transformed into a sanitation station for the shelter sacrificing their own personal use. They also use their own kitchen for food prep and their own washer and dryer is taken over almost exclusively for shelter laundry. They are in desperate need of a separate space equipped with a food prep area, wash bay, bathing tubs, and laundry facilities where all these activities can be done daily by volunteers. Such a facility will not be cheap but is vital to continuing proper care for the wildlife.
I would love to be able to give back to this wonderful couple and ensure that they get the help they need to keep the shelter running. If you would like more information or to contact the shelter you can check out their website where you can make donations directly to the shelter through paypal or look them up on their facebook page.
Thank you so much in advance. Your donations will help save hundreds of animals which otherwise would not get a second chance.
The Golina's tiny bathroom is completely taken over by the animals needs. Cleanliness is very important so all food dishes get disinfected with bleach daily.
The outdoor washing station. This cannot be used in the winter and even in the warmer months an enclosed space would be preferable.
Even sometimes doing 3 loads of laundry a day Nancy struggles to keep up with the demand on their only washer and dryer.
Nancy cleaning an oil covered heron.
An otter in need of some care.
Another very sick patient.
Bald eagles are one of the more common patients at the wildlife shelter as most of Canada's population of bald eagles are found on the pacific coast.
Snowy owl currently in care.
Gunther with the local deer that stop by for a treat. Many of these deer have been rehabilitated and released by the shelter yet they still like to drop in and sometimes bring their friends/family.
Waterfowl enclosure. Just one example of the many remarkable wildlife housing facilities on site.
Even blind & deaf cats find shelter here.
To them the animals always come first. Along with rescuing and rehabilitating over 700 wild animals a year the Golina's also provide homes for unwanted pets in the area, that the BC SPCA is unable to care for, and provide services to rehome these animals. They take in anything from birds, reptiles, and cats. Many, many cats. The shelter currently houses close to 30 domestic cats and feeds many more feral ones.
For the past 26 years the couple have been happy to do it all, working endlessly, and on call 24/7 in order to provide the best care possible. Recently, Gunther was hospitalized due to an infection possibly brought on by a scratch from an eagle in their care. Now having to do everything on her own, as well as take care of Gunther, Nancy admits she doesn't think they can do it alone for another busy spring/summer season. They have had many wonderful volunteers over the years and right now they are in need of a new working space for those volunteers. Extra funds would go towards the creation of a working space for shelter activities like food prep and sanitation separate from their living quarters as well as some much needed shelter maintenance.
In the summer Nancy uses a large trough outside for all the washing, including any cleansing needed for animals, like the heron pictured below who was the unfortunate victim of an oil spill. This is not ideal as it is. In the winter it only gets worse. When it's much too cold to be working with water outside all of the center's washing moves indoors. To the Golina's bathroom. Their family bathroom becomes transformed into a sanitation station for the shelter sacrificing their own personal use. They also use their own kitchen for food prep and their own washer and dryer is taken over almost exclusively for shelter laundry. They are in desperate need of a separate space equipped with a food prep area, wash bay, bathing tubs, and laundry facilities where all these activities can be done daily by volunteers. Such a facility will not be cheap but is vital to continuing proper care for the wildlife.
I would love to be able to give back to this wonderful couple and ensure that they get the help they need to keep the shelter running. If you would like more information or to contact the shelter you can check out their website where you can make donations directly to the shelter through paypal or look them up on their facebook page.
Thank you so much in advance. Your donations will help save hundreds of animals which otherwise would not get a second chance.
The Golina's tiny bathroom is completely taken over by the animals needs. Cleanliness is very important so all food dishes get disinfected with bleach daily. The outdoor washing station. This cannot be used in the winter and even in the warmer months an enclosed space would be preferable. Even sometimes doing 3 loads of laundry a day Nancy struggles to keep up with the demand on their only washer and dryer. Nancy cleaning an oil covered heron. An otter in need of some care. Another very sick patient. Bald eagles are one of the more common patients at the wildlife shelter as most of Canada's population of bald eagles are found on the pacific coast. Snowy owl currently in care. Gunther with the local deer that stop by for a treat. Many of these deer have been rehabilitated and released by the shelter yet they still like to drop in and sometimes bring their friends/family. Waterfowl enclosure. Just one example of the many remarkable wildlife housing facilities on site. Even blind & deaf cats find shelter here.Organizer
Sara Jordan
Organizer
Prince Rupert, BC