'We're struggling': NWT SPCA starts GoFundMe campaign

The NWT SPCA is asking its supporters for cash as it grows frustrated with a lack of government support, says the organization's president.

"We're struggling from month to month to make sure we have income coming in," says Nicole Spencer.

"That's why we do events four, five, six times a year. That's why we do our raffle, that's why we're always doing something to raise money. Because we don't know how much money we're going to have four months down the road."

Spencer launched a GoFundMe crowdfunding campaign on Monday, hoping to raise $50,000.

As of Wednesday morning the campaign had raised more than $4,500.

A dearth of stable funding

The SPCA took in 430 dogs and 105 cats in 2015 from across the territory. Taking care of those animals cost the organization more than $400,000.

A grant from the N.W.T. government covered just under three per cent of that total.

Spencer says she has approached the government for a bigger contribution, but can never get a straight answer.

"Nobody seems to know where to point us. Nobody knows who would be responsible for this. We don't know where we fit in, and nobody knows where to put us."

Spencer wants to see the SPCA considered an essential service and treated accordingly.

She says the stress of constantly fundraising and worrying about the budget has taken its toll.

"Either we're going to run out of money and we're going to have to say no, or we're going to mentally just kind of give out because it is a whole lot of work and stress trying to find money."