Bambi, a one-and-a-half-year-old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel (below), wiggles over, not letting an obvious sore leg hold her back. She wags her copper-coloured tail eagerly and with curious, wide eyes, greets the new person who enters the shelter—possibly this is her forever home?
But once again, she is passed by. Her wagging tail comes to a stop.
Bambi has been at Delta Community Animal Shelter (DCAS) for over three months and despite her adorable brown eyes, friendly and quiet demeanor, smooth coat of golden red and patches of white, and young age, she has yet to be adopted.
The reason? Many people overlook adoptable animals affected by health issues, and unfortunately Bambi is one of those animals.
Otherwise healthy, Bambi suffers from a fully dislocated patella knee that is locked. In addition, there is a small chance her other knee may eventually require surgery because it has been taking all of the strain. Understandably so, this type of health issue is daunting for a possible pet owner, especially because of the high cost of medical care for animals.
“The good news is Bambi’s condition is treatable and she will recover to live a long, healthy and happy life,” said DCAS Manager Sarah Jones. “The bad news is her surgery will cost approximately $3,000, and possibly more in the future if her other knee has issues, and it is difficult to find a forever home with the means to support the surgery cost.”
This situation is precisely the reason Delta Community Animal Shelter created the Tollie Fund. In 2008, a fun-loving 11-month-old puppy living at the shelter required an expensive knee surgery.
Tollie was her name, and she was always overlooked by potential families because of her rare knee condition and the cost to fix it (much like Bambi).
DCAS determined the only way to help her get adopted was for the shelter to raise the money needed to mend her knees.
Thanks to the generosity of the public, DCAS raised the funds and Tollie received the surgery she needed. The Tollie Fund was officially established in 2009, and since then has been helping animals temporarily living at the shelter get the medical care they require.
DCAS is currently fundraising through the Tollie Fund to provide Bambi and other animals with the surgery they need, alleviating their potential forever homes of the cost and improving their chance of being adopted, and living the long, healthy, happy lives they so deserve.
Part of the fundraising is the seventh-annual Delta Community Animal Expo, which takes place Aug. 23 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Ladner Memorial Park, 5010 47 Ave.
Tere will be animal welfare exhibits, including Vancouver Aquarium Marine Mammal Rescue, pet health and safety education booths, the Tollie Fund Activity Arena, exotic animals such as mini-horses, llamas, raptors, goats and pigs, and the Delta Community Animal Shelter’s animals in need of forever homes.
For more information, call 604-940-7111, email sjones@delta.ca or visit https://www.facebook.com/DeltaAnimalShelter