Helping those that can’t help themselves…..
Here at Sunridge, we like to give back to the people and communities that have supported us over our 12 years of being in business in this region. Animals have always been near and dear to our hearts so when the wildfires hit BC with such a vigorous hunger in the summer of 2021, we knew where we wanted to help. The question was how? That is when we discovered the wonderful non-profit organization of the Animal Lifeline Emergency Response Team Society – or ALERT Society of Pentiction.
This group of volunteers runs towards natural or man-made disasters like fires and floods to help the those with fur, feathers and scales such as cats, dogs, bunnies, fish, lizards, chickens, pigs, goats, cows and horses.
The Mission of ALERT
According to the ALERT Society, the mission statement on their website is:
To provide emergency services for domestic animals and livestock in the event of a disaster.
To train volunteers in order that they can provide emergency shelter and response for domestic animals and livestock, when responding during a disaster.
To raise funds for supplies, medical treatment for animals, training costs, and expenses incurred by volunteers during a disaster.
What they do
ALERT works with local authorities including ESS (Emergency Support Services), EOCs (Emergency Operations Centres), fire departments, the RCMP, Ministry of Agriculture and Emergency Management BC personnel.
ALERT volunteers will deploy to specific areas of disaster/emergency once requested and will report to ESS teams in local communities.
When natural or man-made disasters happen, ALERT provides assistance to the affected community by providing when necessary:
- Setup of temporary animal relief shelters
- Evacuation of animals
- Rescue of abandoned or stranded animals
- Implementation of a record keeping and identification system
- Transportation of animals
- Coordination of veterinary care for sick or injured animals
- Coordination of animal food and supplies
- Compassionate removal of animals who don’t survive the disaster
- Lost animal documentation
- Reuniting animals with caregivers
- Facilitating fostering and/or adoption of unclaimed or surrendered animals
- Maintenance of animals sheltered in place
Where do they provide assistance
ALERT has been seen all over the Okanagan. They have provided much needed assistance in the communities of Osyosoos, Princeton, Falkand, Oliver, Kelowna, West Kelowna, Penticton, Peachland, Keromeos, and Salmon Arm.
How can you help?
There are a number of ways you can help out this fantastic group of volunteers
The first is to train to be a volunteer yourself
Apply to be a foster home during an emergency
Assist in hauling animals out of evacuated areas
Donations are always needed to support this non-profit operation. Donations received in the past have been cages for animals, gas cards for vehicles hauling animals out of evacuated areas, food for animals and volunteers, and money.
So, if you are animal lovers like we are, and you are looking to donate to a worthwhile organization, then we highly recommend helping out the Animal Lifeline Emergency Response Team society of Penticton. Once again in this summer of 2022, our team at Sunridge funded some much needed food and supplies for animals that were displaced by fire this summer, and we were so touched by the people that messaged us to tell us how helpful it was.
For more information, please visit their website located at https://alertcanada.org/ to learn more.
