Drumheller first responders from the RCMP, EMS, and Fire Departments took on Grade 4 and 5 students at Greentree School in a doctor dodgeball match on Thursday afternoon in order to build a good relationship with valley youngsters while also fundraising for year end trips to the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary and the Telus Spark centre. Pictured above is fireman Christopher Knight picking his target, and below is student Temwani Banda, 10, and RCMP Constable Eric Doucette eyeing each other up before the match.

When the Drumheller and District Humane Society said goodbye  to Trooper, a hard-knock cat with a bad eye and a worse life and who spent over 800 days at the shelter while living up to his name, the humane society found both a home for its oldest resident and a demarcation  of what a success the shelter has become.

Spring is a busy season and there’s been a high number of adoptions recently, with the cat population at the shelter dropping to an unusually low of 19 late last week, but by Monday the count rose back up to 21. 

The effort is tireless and unending, says President Kelcy Travis, but one that’s as rewarding as it is heartwarming.

“It pulls on people’s heartstrings. We get a lot of animals surrendered for such a small town, and even take animals from other cities,” says Travis, who works two jobs on top of volunteering her time to the humane society. 

“This is a lot of work but I love it. There’s been heartbreaking days but the good that comes out of it is worth it.”

The humane society has had a whirlwind of a spring so far, with its annual general meeting last month seeing the return of past board members, a senior and special needs cat drive continuing this month which aims to find homes for older cats and ones with medical issues by waiving adoption fees and offering adoptions by donation, a visit to the seniors centre on April 28, a barbecue fundraiser planned for the May Day softball tournament on April 30 and May 1, and an open house scheduled for sometime in May. They are planning a low cost spay and neuter clinic in the coming months for low income families.

“I couldn’t do it without some of the people we have. It’s the community and volunteers which make us successful,” said Travis. “We have volunteers from age three to ones in their eighties. We have lots of good people around us.”