Deep snow drifts cause SCAPA workers concern

By Carol Hopkins

Salvation comes in the form of a shovel for fenced in puppies. - Carol Hopkins photo

STEPHENVILLE - Road conditions were dangerous after a winter storm hit the province on January 28.  While the town of Stephenville did not receive the amount of snow other areas did, high winds made for deep snow drifts, making life difficult for people and animals alike.

As people donned snowsuits and faced the daunting task of clearing driveways, Jaime Bourgeois, a volunteer with Bay St. George Animal Shelter, was using Facebook to post a plea for help to dig out the animal shelter:

“Please can you spare a bit of your time and your shovel this afternoon. Because of all the snow we got in such a short time, SCAPA (the Society for the Care and Protection of Animals) needs assistance shovelling out the area around the dog pens. I know it’s still snowing, but right now it’s practically impossible for the workers to open the pen doors. Any help would be welcome! No need to call ahead, just show up at SCAPA with your shovel,” Bourgeois wrote.

Although the postings did not result in extra help, Bourgeois is hopeful that the postings will raise awareness of the need for help during the winter season, especially after a snow storm.

“It’s not only the issues with snow blocking the doors and (not) allowing the workers to get in, which is a problem if the snow is packed against the doors,” Bourgeois said, “But, on top of that, if it’s a big bank, the dogs can climb the bank and it’s only a short leap up to the top of the gate and over.”

The possibility of the animals getting out and running loose is a safety issue the volunteers take seriously.

Samantha Rotchford, Jaime Bourgeois and Dale Bourgeois work hard to clear the kennel area of snow at the Bay St. George Animal Shelter. - Gwen Samms photo

In the early afternoon, shelter manager Gwen Samms picked up Jaime’s mother Dale Bourgeois and another SCAPA volunteer, Sam Rotchford. Dale, Jaime and Rotchford started digging while Samms took care of the animals.

It took the women 2 ½ hours to shovel out the area. They stayed for the remainder of the day to clear the dog runs.

Despite the back breaking labour, Jaime is not sorry she volunteered her time to the shelter.

“I’m very glad I got involved with the shelter, very glad,” Jaime said. “I think contribution feels wonderful. There’s not much more important than that in the world. If everybody is willing to help a little bit here and there, we’d live in a much better place, I think.”

Samms said there were mountains of snow in the kennel area when she arrived Saturday morning. In the past, the shelter had tried using snow blowers but due to the fencing around the kennels, the snow would end up forming a wall and it just didn’t work.There is no choice but to use shovels, especially around the dog runs, she said.

She has seen times when the snow was so deep that workers could not even drive up the road to where the shelter is located. Samms said they had to trudge up the road in snow so deep that it was up to their waists in some places.

“If there’s a big snowfall, the volunteers still have to feed the animals and clean up after them,” Samms said. “There have been times we’ve been up there until 10 or 11 o’clock at night. We’ve fed the animals and then stayed behind to continue shovelling snow.”

Samms said there is a real need for help, especially after a major snow storm. SCAPA will often send out a plea for help through the local radio station and hope people will show up. Samms is grateful for the volunteers and for any help the shelter can get.

“I guess you could say we’re kind of like the mailman: no rain, sleet, or snow will keep us away,” Samms said. “We have to be there. The animals need us and that’s it.”