We all know true Animal Welfare is very expensive.

Animal Control is funded through municipal tax dollars and hopefully that will evolve to include funding for animal welfare as well but until then the pound animals need help from their friends.

An example of this is Abby, a three month old kitten found with her mangled eye hanging out by an Animal Control Officer from the CRD Pound in Victoria. On picking her up, he was astounded as she started to purr. He rushed her to the vet (Belmont-Langford Vet Hospital) where she was placed on pain relief and an effort was made to find her owner.

When her owner was not found within the legal time limit, Abby was transferred to the care of Greater Victoria Animals' Crusaders so she could be correctly treated and rehomed.

Abby has had her eye removed, been spayed and she is presently in foster care. The unknown trauma she suffered also has damaged her other eye and the belief is she will slowly go blind... but today she is a happy purring enthusiastic kitten looking for a new home. Her prognosis for a happy life in a stable, loving inside home is excellent.

Animals' Crusaders are grateful both to many members of the Veterinary Community in Victoria for their continued support of rescue and to our donors who support what we do in conjunction with the CRD Pound for the animals there. We are also grateful to Victoria Cat Rescue for their continued support of the stray animals as well.

Also a big THANK YOU to the CRD Pound management and staff for allowing and encouraging our continued involvement with their animals. We can do nothing without their support.

Yes, Animal Welfare is expensive but it is one of the reasons our donors donate to Greater Victoria Animals' Crusaders. Our main mandate is that of providing low-cost spay and neuter to low-income individuals pets and (stray or feral) cats and dogs.

In our calendar year of Sept 2003 to Sept 2004 Greater Victoria Animals' Crusaders helped over 1200 animals, many of them strays from the CRD Pound.

Yes, Pounds can practise true Animal Welfare with a little help from their friends.