We received devastating news today. The Wadena Council has given us 60 days from June 20 to close this impound and rescue shelter. We were not invited to council chambers to discuss this, and no previous communication regarding complaints or contraventions has ever been received. This decision was communicated by a registered letter that we still have not received. No one from the council or the Town has the manners or decency to say this to our faces.  
We have been supported by the residents and the Town of Wadena for four years, with one sitting councillor's wife organizing an enjoyable fund-raising event that was highly successful. This decision by the council is a case of judge, jury and executioner. The Town has given us no alternative when asked what we do with the animals we pick up in Wadena. Most shelters are full or have restricted opening times, so if we pick up an animal at 4 pm, there is nowhere to take it. 
 Every animal we pick up must be kept for a certain period for any owner to claim. That ability will be taken away. We have a contract with the Town of Wadena as Animal Control Bylaw Officer, and in that capacity, a pound is needed, which is now being taken away. The council is giving no alternative. We get paid by the council to do this work, and that money goes back into the welfare of animals and our expenses, so in effect, we are a voluntary service, working for free to service Wadena. Our annual vet bills are in excess of $10,000, so we also rely on donations.  
Because we have become so well known, we are outgrowing our premises and are in negotiations to purchase a building in Wynyard and hopefully keep a base in Wadena, which is now in jeopardy  
This ill-thought-out ludicrous decision shows the council's ineptness and ignorance of what is needed to fulfil our contractual obligations. In the past years, we have been supported by the Town and previous councils and Administrators. The RCMP uses our services, and this shelter impound has put Wadena on the map in the animal world. We will be meeting with the council on July 18; if you wish to join a delegation, don't hesitate to get in touch with us so we can inform the Town office that you will be attending, or you can write a letter that can be submitted before the council meeting.  
Our ability to care for dogs in the picture below is severely curtailed by the council's decision 
In the meantime, we will endeavour to full our contractual obligations. So keep calling!