REGINA - The Salthaven West Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Centre is currently seeking donations to build a new Wildlife Rehabilitation Clinic just north of Regina.
Angela Tremka, community engagement manager at Salthaven West Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Centre, explained that the group's current 600 square feet of space can no longer meet its needs.
"We are [now] having conversations where it's like, okay, maybe we have to stop taking in ducklings or other animals," she said.
Tremka said the organization is seeing an uptick in animals needing treatment over the past few years.
"When [we] first started 10 years ago, we were seeing a couple hundred wildlife patients in need of help. [Now], we see around 1,400 wildlife patients every year."
She also mentioned that the group gets about 5,000 calls a year via their helpline. From this helpline, they will assess whether or not animals are in need of care.
The animals they care of are birds, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians.
As Tremka noted, they’re the only wildlife care centre in Â鶹ÊÓƵern Sask., with the next closest centre being in Saskatoon.
With an increased need for wildlife animal care, Tremka said the group is desperately trying to raise $700,000 for a new facility.
The fundraiser started two years ago, with $400,000 raised so far.
The group will match donations up to $20,000 until April 3rd to urgently get more donations. The money was given by two generous donors whom Tremka praised for their efforts.
Even with this support, the deadline to reach their goal is looming.
Tremka explained what would happen if they didn’t raise the funds come summer.
"There is nowhere else that we can operate out of," she said. Tremka also mentioned that renters they’ve spoken to said a rehabilitation clinic wouldn’t be a good fit for their space.
"We need something that is specifically meant for wildlife. We need exam rooms, isolation rooms, patient-specific rooms, etc."
Without having a space to operate, Tremka noted, "there'll be over a thousand animals that are not receiving the help and the care needed."
One tricky situation the group faces with their new space is its location. Since it's outside the city, they likely won't receive funding from Regina.
There has also been no support from the provincial government, which Tremka said would be beneficial.
New space
With the hope to start building a new space, the group has already purchased the land it will sit on.
Tremka mentioned the importance of having an outside area with mature trees, a good water source and very large flight pens for raptors to regain their strength.
Inside the building would be a reception room, different-sized tubs, and more.
Tremka stressed the need to have tubs for physiotherapy. "A huge percentage of our patients need a lot of water. Even thinking of muskrats and beavers. This can help them regain their strength."
The organization is planning to start construction of the space after reaching its donation mark, with the hope to settle in by the fall.
Anyone who is interested in donating to the group
