The Lake Cowichan Animal Rescue Society turns 10 this year and they’re having a party to celebrate.
On Saturday, LCARS is hosting a gathering at the curling lounge in the Cowichan Lake Sports Arena to recognize this anniversary and also the many hours of volunteer work put into keeping the society alive.
Founded in 2006 by Barb Livingstone and Trish Voigtman, the society is a fully volunteer-run nonprofit rescue organization and registered charity that seeks to rescue, vaccinate, neuter, release or re-home animals in the Cowichan Lake area. All the work done by LCARS is driven entirely by volunteers, which is part of the reason why Barb and Mick Bedard felt it was important to celebrate the society’s 10th birthday.
“We’re also having an appreciation luncheon for our volunteers and people who foster for us and people who work at PetSmart and all our members,” said Barb, director of operations for LCARS. “I’ve made up some little awards for people who’ve been there five or 10 years, and I’ll present them at the do. And we’re going to have a little auction.”
Barb described the society’s volunteers as a “family,” and said the organization would have fallen apart without them.
Those volunteers do a wide range of tasks, everything from trapping feral cats and bringing them in, keeping donation boxes at their businesses, finding homes for animals in need, operating the society’s info table at community events, and more.
“They’re out in the trenches. They’re the backbone of the society,” she said.
If members of the public would like to help out but are unable to commit in these ways, they can always save their till receipts each month at Country Grocer. A portion of the sales on those receipts is then donated by the store to LCARS.
“That’s an excellent way to help us… Last month we got over $800 back from Country Grocer,” Barb said. “[People] can drop them off at our raffle table, at our home here at 28 East Arbutus, or just give us a phone call and we’ll go pick them up. It really helps us out a lot.”
For more information on how you can get involved, phone 250-749-3697.
The anniversary and volunteer recognition event is Saturday, Oct. 15, from 12 to 3 p.m. at the curling lounge.
