1.      Message from the President

This Newseletter comes to you with our very best wishes for a Happy and Prosperous New Year and with the sincere hope that together we will all be able to make life better for as many animals as possible during 2010.

Some exciting news for SAD. We have recently updated and added to our web site a new way for our members, benefactors etc. to donate to your Shelter via Canada Helps. This new way of donating allows you to donate to SAD from the comfort of your homes in a completely secure way.
As by now I am sure you all know, SAD receives no financial assistance from the Municipality or any other government source. We rely completely on the generosity of you, our members, the Community and from our fundraising efforts and any monies generated through the Sunshine Store. In order to continue raising funds and thereby enabling us to continue rescuing those animals that so desperately need our help we have registered with Canada Helps as another way to accept donations.
  
Canada Helps is a registered charity and public foundation that strives to provide accessible and affordable online technology to us as a charity and to you as a possible donor to help us increase the number of donations given to us to help us continue our work. It is a very simple way to donate, is totally secure and can be accessed via our web site athttp.//www.sadelliotlake.com. You can donate to SAD via online donations by credit card and receive immediate notification of your donations via e-mail. SAD will receive your donation on a weekly basis and you will receive your tax receipts electronically, also immediately. You can also check and see that your donation has been received - it is so simple and it does work. I have tried it myself and am delighted with the speed in which my donation was accepted and the tax receipt issued.

We hope that you will use this new and innovative way to donate to SAD and thereby help us to continue to serve you and all the animals in our care. Just go tohttp.//www.CanadaHelps.org  or to our website and please always remember that every time you donate another animal in distress, another animal that may be sitting in the Pound who otherwise might be euthanized is getting a new “leash in life”. So please help us to help them. We can’t do it without you.

2.      2009 Shelter manager’s report

As we say goodbye to 2009 and look forward to the new year we can't help but look back on last years events and of course on all of the wonderful animals that came through our doors and have now moved on to homes of their very own. In 2009 SAD successfully saved 143 cats and 76 dogs for a grand total of 219 animals! I would like to extend my sincere thanks to not only the staff and volunteers but also to the membership for being involved and participating in helping to save the lives of so many animals in need. There are no words to describe the joy in seeing the rehabilitation and re-homing of these very special animals who brought so much to all of our lives. 2010 promises many challenges but also many triumphs and we at the shelter remain as dedicated as ever in our plight to offer a safe haven for animals in need. We wish you all a wonderful New Year!

3.      Annual General Meeting report

SAD’s Annual General Meeting was held at the Moose Family Centre on November 14th. The Minutes of this Meeting have been prepared and will be made available to allmembers in the near future. Should members have any questions regarding the AGM theseshould be directed in writing to the Board c/o 33 Perini Road. The Board would like to thank The Moose Family Centre for allowing SAD to hold its AGM at their facilities and also for their provision of coffee etc. Their assistance was greatly appreciated.

4.      Working committees

As we reported in our last Newsletter a number of new Committees have been established by the Board of Directors in an effort to both streamline SAD as an organization and also to allow us to move more effectively into areas which will benefit both SAD and the Community.  
The importance of these Committees and thereby the Committee members cannot be stressed enough. They are the single most important part of a well-run organization. As members, being on a committee will also give you the opportunity to work more closely with SAD and the Board of Directors and will allow you to become directly involved with and have a say in how SAD is run. Those Committees where we are still desperate for volunteers include the following:
            - Fundraising Committee (we need at least 6 more volunteers)
            - Membership Committee
            - Bingo Committee
            - Shelter Maintenance and Operations
            - Special Projects
Please contact Jackie at 848 6134 or at jackieh@personainternet.com for further information or if you feel you would be interested in volunteering on any of these Committees. Please remember that this is a vital part of SAD’s successful operation and we do urgently need your help.

5.      Recent fundraising events and results

We’ve had three events since our last newsletter and they were a great success - thanks to everyone who helped organise them and participated. 
Doll raffle                              $260.00
Night on the Town                $2,880.00

Total                            $3,140.00

6.1     Volunteer handyman/Drivers

We are still in need of someone who could volunteer some hours to help us finish up our few outstanding projects. We also need drivers to help transport animals to vet appointments or to and from foster homes.

6.2     Membership

SAD will be holding a membership drive in the early Spring but in the interim we would ask that if any of you have lapsed memberships please think about renewing them or if you know of anyone who might be interested in becoming a new member please let us know and we will make sure that they receive the necessary forms.

In return for your membership fee of $15 per annum you will receive a new membership card together with a 10% discount at Darryl’s One-Stop Grooming and also at Debi’s Pet World for any purchases other than food items. Of course, you will also receive our wonderful Newsletter and a chance to attend and vote at our Annual General Meetings.  Remember SAD is your shelter and the animals need you to help us make it work.

6.3     Newsletter distribution

If you have email and received a paper edition, please let us know so that we can put you on our email list to reduce our postage costs and help S.A.D. “Go Green” to lessen our environmental footprint.

7.      Your stories

FINDING DALLAS    by        CHRIS FONTES

It was an unusually warm October day. I parked the minivan in front of the local bookstore, anticipating several hours of shopping. My kids couldn't stop talking about the pet store we had just come from. Apparently, the two cats and one dog at home weren’t enough to satisfy their need for animals. Funny. For my wife and me, it was plenty.
“Daddy, why can't we have another cat?” My seven year old, Brandon, pleaded.
“We have two cats already, that's why.” I replied.
“Your Father and I have already talked about it: we have plenty of animals. You should be thankful for    the ones we have.” My wife, Julie, said.
I nodded in agreement. I was sure one more pet was one too many. Then, I saw it. Right there in the rear view mirror: a new animal shelter.  There's nothing wrong with just looking, I thought. Although resistant to another pet, we always enjoyed looking.
“Ok listen up, kids. Before I tell you what we're about to do, let me reiterate. We are not getting another animal. Ok?”   A unanimous “Ok” echoed from the backseat.
“Ok. Behind us is a new shelter. Who wants to go see some pets?” I asked.  “Me!” Again in unison.
The shelter was small and smelled of fresh paint. My boys ran off to look at the cats; the wife and I were caught in the gaze of a beautiful German Shepherd. He sat in a black wire crate, much like the one we had at home for our other German Shepherd, Dakota.  He looked to be smaller than Dakota, so I guessed him at 6 months. He was laying down with his head on his paws, ears erect and eyes in proper puppy form: large, brown, and full of love. When we started to walk closer, he stood up and put his paw on the door of the crate. A slight whimper slipped through his mouth, and his bushy tail started wagging.
It won't hurt to just look at him, right? I looked at Julie and we nodded in agreement. I knelt down next to the crate, putting my finger through the bars. His long tongue was quick to welcome me.
“Awe! He's cute!” Julie said.  We made small talk with the employee closest to us, then inquired about the dog.   “His name's Dallas. He's about 7 months old. We picked him up as a stray and he's been to several foster homes. I'm afraid he doesn't have any more options, though.” Beth, the employee, said.
“How is he with kids, cats and dogs?” I asked.
“Oh, wonderful! Every foster home has hated to part with him, but we're only allowed to leave      him with each home for so long.” She said. “You wanna take him for a walk?”
“Sure.” I said. I figured if anything, at least I could give this dog a walk and let him out of the crate for a    bit. What a fool.
“Are we gonna keep him?” Brandon asked.
“Yeah! Keep him?” My two year old, Davis, chimed in.
“We're just taking him for a walk, that's it.” I said. 
“That's right, just a walk kids.” Julie added. 
Dallas played the perfect gentleman; sitting on command, acting cute, walking on a loose leash. He knew how to play his hand, and play it he did.
“So, what are we doing?” I asked Julie quietly.
“I dunno. I mean, Dakota could use a friend.” Julie said as she found a seat in the shade.
Dallas, on queue, walked up to Julie and sat next to her. He put his head in her lap softly, then whimpered again.Oh boy.
“Awe!” Julie stuck her lip out like a sad child. I was about to tease her about it when I realized my lip was doing the same.              

“Ok, are you sure?” I asked.   She shook her head in agreement. In less than 20 minutes, we were sold; hook, line and sinker.

The rescue in my home town mandates that all animals are neutered or spayed, micro-chipped, and vaccinated before they can go home. Since we had signed the papers on a Saturday, we had to wait until Monday for the process to even start. It ended up being a long 4 day wait.
On Wednesday, I waited anxiously for the phone call all day. The day seemed to drag on and on, and all I could think about was how my dog was stuck waiting for me. Finally, after lunch, the phone rang. I left work immediately.  My heart hurt in anticipation.   I checked my watch twice a minute. Eighty checks later, I heard him crying for me.  I signed the requisite paperwork, and headed for the door, Dallas at my side. Everyone commented on how gorgeous and well behaved he was. He sat and wagged his tail, happy to give his attention to anyone who asked. It took another 15 minutes just to get to the door.  The ride home was something I will never forget. He sat next to me on the bench seat of my truck, head in my lap. I just kept my arm around him, thankful he was part of our family.

It took a few weeks for him to fold into our family completely. Dakota and Dallas figured out who was boss the first day, but continued to test each other for the weeks to follow. He took to the kids right away, although he seems to forget how easy he can push the two year old over. The poor cats, however, are not so happy. They get along ok, but you can tell they would be happier with a dog free household.

Although it has been only a few months, I can't imagine my family without Dallas. Sure, he thinks he can sit on my two year old's lap and fit; he jumps in, or rather at, my arms, expecting me to catch him; he may eat every meal like it's his last; but he also loves us as much as we love him. He is always there, ready for a hug.    I am thankful we decided to “look” at pets that day. I am thankful to the foster homes who took in my Dallas when he needed them. And I am very thankful to the shelter. Without their help and services, my poor Dallas would be walking the streets somewhere; cold, hungry, and in desperate need of a hug.