The Okanagan Humane Society (OHS) is facing an ‘unprecedented crisis’ two weeks into the new year, stretching its resources very thin.
Just 15 days into the new year, OHS has taken in 42 dogs and puppies so far on top of their steady intake of kittens and cats.
“We’ve started the year off with a bang,” said OHS executive director Romany Runnalls. “The need is immediate, overwhelming, and heartbreaking.”
OHS has seen some of the most distressing cases in rescuing some of these puppies.
Four puppies were found living in a shed in the South Okanagan while 16 were surrendered from a North Okanagan home where the owners could no longer afford their care, stated OHS. Six were rescued from Merritt, where Angel’s Animal Care Rescue was overwhelmed after finding 27 puppies crammed into a shed, living in their own feces and crying out for help.
“Angel’s Animal Care Rescue reached out to us because 27 puppies were simply too many for a small charity to handle alone,” explained Runnalls. “That’s what collaboration in rescue looks like, stepping in when animals’ lives are on the line.”
The society explained that a lot of these cases are a result of unspayed and unneutered animals. Two unspayed females including an 11-year-old Great Dane were impregnated by a neighboring dog, resulting in 16 puppies now requiring extensive veterinary care.
“Spay and neuter is the key,” said Runnalls. “It reduces suffering, prevents deadly infections like pyometra, lowers the risk of certain cancers, helps with behavioral issues, and most importantly stops the endless cycle of unwanted litters.”
Parvovirus is a highly contagious disease that kills multiple dogs in the Okanagan every year. The society is “racing against time” to get all of the puppies tested and vaccinated to ensure that they do not have the disease.
The puppies also need to go through deworming, microchipping and assessing before they can begin their healing in foster homes.
OHS has also received dogs from the public, transfers from Dog Control in the Okanagan and pets whose owners have died or have to move into a long-term care facility.
With an average cost of $350 per animal and fully relying on public donations, OHS has already started 2026 with significant expenses with an entire year ahead. The charity suspects they will help more than 4,500 animals in 2026 which means they must raise more than $1.5 million. That number of animals is also the number OHS helped last in 2025.
“As long as we have volunteer foster homes and the funding, we can continue saving lives,” says Runnalls. “But we cannot do this alone.”
To donate or get involved, visit https://okanaganhumanesociety.com/donate/