KXA Animal Evacuation Centre in need of donations

Aug 3, 2017 | 5:54 PM

KAMLOOPS — The Kamloops Exhibition Grounds has been playing host to numerous animals rescued from wildfire threatened regions, and the KXA Evac Centre is now asking for help. 

Manager Judy Banks says the KXA Evac Centre is still hosting and rescuing livestock and other animals, and will play a part in returning them once the wildfire season slows down. 

However, as time wears on resources are being depleted, and the centre is in desperate need of volunteers, hay, feed, and monetary donations.

“Our donations have dried up,” said manager Judy Banks, “but the demand for feed has not. Today we’re going to try to ship out as much feed to as many places as we can with what we’ve got, and we don’t know where we’re going to get the rest of the stuff, but there’s animals out there that need to be fed, their grass is burnt right off.” 

In addition to having a short supply of hay and feed, the KXA Evac Centre is facing a threat of theft. Banks says there have been several attempts made to steal the supply that is so desperately needed by animals removed from their homes, or still in wildfire zones. 

“The problem that we’re having is the underbelly of the result of the fire are starting to surface, well, they’ve been surfacing all along,” Banks said. “Now we’re starting to see people start to make a small, tiny profit out of selling, redirecting donated hay. We’ve actually got footage of someone doing that.”

“We’ve been challenged here at the gate a number of times by people trying to do just that: swipe hay from us without going through proper processes.” 

People wishing to volunteer or donate are asked to call Judy Banks at 250-371-1409.