Press Release: VOKRA Faces Urgent Fundraising Crisis Ahead of “Walk for the Kitties”
Press Release:
VOKRA Faces Urgent Fundraising Crisis Ahead of“Walk for the Kitties”
**Vancouver, BC** – *August 27, 2024* – The Vancouver Orphan Kitten Rescue Association (VOKRA) urgently calls on the community for support as our upcoming “Walk for the Kitties” event is facing a significant fundraising deficit. With just two weeks remaining until the event on September 8th at Jericho Beach, VOKRA has raised just over $28,000—falling far short of our $100,000 goal. This shortfall comes at a time when our rescue operations are more essential than ever.
From January to June 2024, VOKRA has taken in over 600 cats and kittens, a significant increase compared to previous years. The ongoing housing crisis in Vancouver, coupled with rising veterinary costs and supply prices, has put unprecedented financial strain on our organization. This combination of challenges threatens our ability to continue rescuing, treating, and rehoming vulnerable cats and kittens.
“This year has marked a significant turning point for us,” said Karen Duncan, co-founder of VOKRA. “We started in 2000 to address the overwhelming number of kittens on Vancouver's streets, many of which were left to die.
Our Trap-Neuter-Return [TNR] efforts reduced those numbers, but now, we're facing a resurgence. We're overwhelmed with calls about abandoned cats, pets people can no longer keep, and unspayed animals adopted during COVID leading to a new wave of pregnant cats and kittens.”
In addition to the surge in abandoned cats, VOKRA volunteers have responded to rescue sites requiring hazmat suits and tragic situations that rarely reach the public eye. From rescuing terrified cats in buildings where an owner has died or abandoned them, to working with fire departments to recover cats from fire-damaged properties, VOKRA steps in when no one else will.
“Our mission is urgent and essential, but our funds are at an all-time low,” Duncan continued. “We’re constantly hearing, ‘Contact VOKRA’ when a cat needs help, but without financial support, we simply can’t continue to operate at the level needed. We’re at a breaking point.” The “Walk for the Kitties” is VOKRA’s largest annual fundraiser, crucial to sustaining our operations. Every dollar raised goes directly toward medical care, food, supplies, and the day-to-day activities that allow us to continue offering a lifeline to homeless and abandoned cats.
“We’re facing a perfect storm of challenges this year,” added Maria Soroski, co-founder of VOKRA. “Veterinary costs have skyrocketed, and more cats are needing our help than ever before. Without substantial community support, we won’t be able to meet these demands. If donations don’t increase soon, the financial impact on VOKRA will be devastating.”
VOKRA is at a critical juncture, and without the funds raised from Walk for the Kitties, we may be forced to limit our intake of cats who urgently need our help. We are calling on everyone to participate in the event on September 8th, whether by registering to walk, fundraising, or making a donation. This event is not only vital to VOKRA’s future but to the survival of hundreds of cats in our care.
To register, donate, or learn more about the event, please visit www.vokra.ca. Together, we can ensure that every cat in our care finds a loving, permanent home.
VOKRA’S WALK FOR THE KITTIES 2024 (5K Fun Walk)
Date: Sunday, September 8th, 2024
Registration 10:00 AM to 11AM Walk 11:00 – 12:45 pm
Location: Jericho Beach Park - Foot of Discovery Street, West of Jericho Sailing Club. Vancouver,BC