A kitten who was rescued after flames destroyed his home during the McDougall Creek wildfire in August 2023, has been without a permanent place to live.
The McDougall Creek wildfire ignited on Aug. 15 and would rapidly grow to 13,970.4 hectares in size. Officials confirmed that 189 structures were either lost or damaged due to the blaze.
At the time Mo, a 10-month-old grey tabby was living in an RV with his human when they both had to escape the blaze that would destroy their home. With no place to care for Mo, the cat was placed in the care of the Okanagan Humane Society (OHS)
However, that wouldn’t be the end of Mo’s struggles. At barely a year old, Mo has had been battling medical issues since he was four months old. Mo suffers from seizures and needs medication as well he has problems with his liver enzymes and needs to be on a specialized diet.
OHS is now looking for a special forever home for Mo, one that can take him in and provide comfort as well as the medications that he needs.
Mo is described as caring, calm, cuddly and curious.
Since Mo is curious and not cautious, the OHS thinks he would do best in a home with no other animals – as he tends to run up to other cats and dogs without hesitation.
For more information on Mo please contact, https://okanaganhumanesociety.com/.
It’s animals like Mo that the Okanagan Humane Society is dedicated to helping, but the society has to rely on volunteers and donations to make rescuing possible.
At the end of February, the Kelowna Firefighters Charitable Society pledged to support the work of OHS with a donation of $2,000 to be matched by a local generous donor in the Raffle to Rescue Animals campaign running now.
“We are thrilled to receive this generous gift from the firefighters that will be matched with our current campaign,” said Romany Runnalls president and board of directors, OHS.
The Raffle to Rescue Animals is a key fundraiser for this local charity that is volunteer powered with funds going to the animals for medical care including spay and neuter, vaccines, and surgeries.
The average cost per animal in OHS care is $300 and the society cared for more than 2,500 animals in 2023. This year the society has already seen its rescue program requests double the need and the pet assistance program requests have tripled.
In 2023, the charity saw a 10 per cent increase in calls for help through the rescue program, a 12 per cent increase in requests through its pet assistance program and a nine per cent increase in its adoption program.
“In addition to over 171 rescue and 438 pet assistance request to date so far in 2024. We have recently received two very large cases that we will be supporting in the Okanagan. One is a 75 cat/kitten rescue and the other a case of 22 puppies that need medical care and to be placed in new, loving homes,” explained Runnalls.
OHS recently saw three donors step forward, donating a combined $20,000 of matched funds. So far, the community has raised over $10,000. The society is hoping to match the $20,000.
“Our raffle tickets were popular this year and have actually sold out, but the match campaign is running so donors can double their impact with a donation today,” said Marni Adams, fund development specialist for OHS.
To purchase your raffle tickets or donate to OHS, visit trellis.org/ohs-raffle-2024.
READ MORE: Raffle to rescue animals in the Okanagan