WAG's Month of Love online fundraiser running until end of the month

Valentine's Day may have already come and gone, but there's still a way to show the community some love this February. 

More specifically, the four-legged members of our community that currently call Whistler's animal shelter home. 

Like pretty much everything else in the last year, Whistler Animals Galore's (WAG) annual Month of Love fundraiser is taking on a different form in 2021. Its online auction launched on Feb. 14, and is open for bidding until 9 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 28. 

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, "We have had to cancel all of our 'in-person/pet' events and campaigns such as our photo booths, our gala, and anything else that has people and their pets get together, and shift to an online platform," explained Catherine Mazza, WAG's assistant manager and marketing coordinator, in an email to Pique. "Thankfully people have been incredibly supportive, both by donating and sponsoring, as well as participating."

For those who might be unable to donate or place a bid this time around, there are other ways to help WAG's animals, explained Mazza. One easy way is to share each animal's story to help them get adopted. 

"Especially our long-term animals like Lola, Sol, Cal, and Marvin - we really want to make 2021 their year!," she said.

Whistler's only animal shelter is unique in several ways, one of which being that it welcomes "less-than-perfect" animals, explained Mazza, and commits to caring for them until their perfect family comes along. "Sometimes that means they stay with us for a long time," she wrote. 

"As their adoption fee will not cover the costs of caring for these guys over weeks, months, or even years, the extra revenue we make through fundraising contributes greatly to our ability to keep taking in special cases and giving them the time they need to rehabilitate, heal, learn, and find their perfect home."

She continued, "Because of this unique rescue model, our turnover numbers tend to be lower, meaning lower adoption fees revenue and higher costs per animal. In order to continue with this operating model, which we are very passionate about, these extra fundraisers are integral to our ability to keep taking in the special cases. We are so thankful that our community also supports this mandate and continues to support us and our special animals!"

It's not too late for any individual or business interested in donating items to WAG for the Month of Love fundraiser to do so, Mazza said, adding that if those items don't make it into the auction this time around, there will always be another raffle, auction or fundraiser around the corner. 

To view the list of items and place a bid before the Feb. 28 deadline, access the Month of Love online auction here, and scroll through the list below to check out which donors supported WAG's latest fundraiser.