Kelowna personalities being locked up

KELOWNA – They are typically temporary homes to abandoned and neglected animals but this Friday the dog kennels at the SPCA in Kelowna will house some unexpected visitors. Half a dozen people are being locked up in cages for a good cause.

“Four hours in a kennel is nothing compared to an animal that is surrendered to us or comes in as a stray,” says Suzanne Pugh, Manager of the Kelowna branch of the B.C. SPCA.

The 5th annual SPCA Kennel Lock-in features well-known personalities like Global Okanagan’s Klaudia Van Emmerik, former Global Okanagan anchor Toby Tannas, Loyal Wooldridge from Loyal Hair Therapy, Sam and Cheryll Gillespie from Rock House Style, and Stuntman Steve from Juice Radio, just to name a few.

In the last four years the kennel lock-in fundraiser has generated close to $35,000. With public donations being the main source of funding for the SPCA, the event goes a long way in helping care for animals in need.

“We have a couple dogs in right now and cats that are on specialized diets and that comes with additional cost,” says Pugh. “As well, the cost of vaccines, the cost of microchips, the general cost of care and if an animal needs medical care, so it’s overall daily care.”

The fundraiser takes place this Friday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Kelowna SPCA on Casorso Road. The public is encouraged to drop by to visit or make a small donation to help free the “inmates.”