2015 a busy year at Whitehorse's Mae Bachur animal shelter

It was the unseen critters that made it a busy year at the Mae Bachur Animal Shelter in Whitehorse.

About 350 dogs and cats passed through the shelter — an average number, says interim manager Linda Priestly. But, she says it was a bad year for diseases and that kept shelter staff on their toes.

Every animal that enters the shelter spends time in an isolated ward. This year an animal in isolation was carrying parvovirus. While that's not uncommon, a flood in the isolation ward spread to the rest of the shelter, bringing the virus with it.

The problems didn't stop there.

"We've also had animals come in with [the parasite] coccidia this year, we've had herpes, we've had ear mites, it's just been a really bad year for just general diseases," says Priestley.

She says the high rate of diseases takes its toll on shelter staff — who have to be constantly cleaning to rid the shelter of bugs — and on shelter finances.

"We're always looking for funding," says Priestley.

The shelter is sponsored by local businesses, but it also holds events like dog washes and yard sales to raise extra money.

Under new management

Priestley says since she took over as interim manager of the shelter in August, she's been busy managing diseases and raising money.

In August, executive director Betty Irwin was fired and most of the board left around the same time. Priestley wouldn't comment on why Irwin was fired, but says the change in management didn't impact day-to-day operations.

Priestly's term ended on Dec. 31. Dan Moore was hired as the new executive director of the Yukon humane society and will start at Mae Bachur in January. 

She says Moore will focus on raising money and keeping the shelter clean.

"I don't expect huge, sweeping changes," Priestly says.