The Estevan Humane Society’s Jail and Bail four-hour event on April 16 exceeded expectations, said event co-ordinator Stephanie Davis, a society board member, who took care of the details surrounding the arrival and departure of about 20 “inmates” that afternoon.
While animal control officers picked up the so-called criminals around the city, Davis registered them before they did their “hard time” in the repurposed dog kennels at the society’s shelter south of the city.
Davis said the target for this first foray into a Jail and Bail format was modest with $1,000 as their targeted goal, but by 4 p.m., over $2,600 had been collected in the form of bail money that will be directed toward a variety of the shelter’s needs.
While the current eight-dog population rested in another area of the shelter, the inmates settled down into chairs and started the process of collecting enough bail money to ensure their release. Some of the inmates were quite young and one four-year-old insisted, after about 15 minutes of incarceration that he “wanted to be donated outta here.” His wish was soon granted with family members coming to the rescue and with assurances that more funds were on the way.
Following release, the former inmates could get their faces painted while picking up a snack near the reception area.
The shelter is housing about 60 cats and kittens along with the eight dogs as the society’s staff and volunteers prepare for, what is expected to be, a busy spring.
“We not only had bail money raised for inmate releases, but we also had a few freelance donations, people just wanting to donate to the shelter, not to necessarily release anyone,” said Davis. “It was a successful day and our thanks go out to the community for their support. It was fun,” Davis said in conclusion.
