January: Flower bulb sales began under the support of Michelle Tanguay netting $712.50 for the shelter. Thank You to all who sold bulbs!

February: The Annual General Meeting was held with the election of offices.

President: Jonah Mitchell

Vice President: Dottie Hawley

Secretary: Christina Kaeser

Treasurer: Dixie Penner

A heartfelt Thank-You to Lillian Kristensen, who stepped down as Vice-President for everything she has done for the animal shelter. Also a Thank You to those who have volunteered to take these positions and to those who have held them in the past.

The AGM meeting minutes are available for those who wish to review them from Christina Kaeser. Bank Of Montreal, thru Gerry Ruzika is selling paper bones for $1.00 each to generate revenue for the shelter.

March:

Micro chipping became available to animal owners of Fort Smith through FSAS thanks to the efforts of volunteers and AVID Micro chipping. The shelter entered into an agreement with AVID to scan all strays for chips when they come into the shelter. The shelter has a scanner and two implant guns. Cost for chipping is $50.00. Deb Johnson has implanted several dogs with great success thus far. Don at AURORANET has graciously supplied Internet services to the shelter in order to connect to the database of AVID.

April: Dixie Penner began Dog Obedience classes. Dixie graciously instructs these classes through Aurora College and ALL proceeds go to the shelter. THANKS DIX! Mika Sutherland took one of our shelter dogs through this course, as many have, in order to make pets more adoptable. Ron Schaefer was hired as Bi-Law Enforcement Officer which encompasses Animal Control. Ron has been Animal Control Officer and does a GREAT job, Thank You Ron! WELCOME BACK!!!

May: Christina Kaeser and numerous volunteers (THANK-YOU) held a fund raising BBQ at Kaesers Store with KAESERS donating the products. This netted the shelter Approx $700.00.

June: Unfortunately, one of our volunteers was bitten this month by a dog. even though she was fine this is a potentially dangerous situation we have to be aware of at all times. Busy boarding month along with July and August, THANK YOU any and all who stepped in to help!

July: Kim Inskip bravely took over doing the schedule, bless you! Gerry Ruzika donated the lovely lap quit for raffle. Tickets were made up with TONS of help from Mika Sutherland and Nikita Paziuk, and distributed for sale. Tickets sold for $2.00 each. Drawing will be held October 1, 2003. FORT SMITH ANIMAL SOCIETY VOLUNTEERS were awarded "Outstanding Volunteer Award" at Canada Day celebrations. This award was presented by NWT Power and MACA.

August: Trailcross kids spent the evening decorating the walls of the Animal Shelter with the paper bones, sold thru Bank Of Montreal, which represent $1300.00 plus in donations from the residents of Fort Smith. Also in August Nikita Paziuk, Pattie Kolesnichenco, Dwade Hawley, Jerry Fryer, Heather Elliot, Mika Sutherland, Kim Inskip, Brittany Scott and Faith Beaulieu all came forward and helped man a table at the South Slave Friendship Festival. T-shirts, doggie T-shirts, hemp tote bags and raffle tickets sold well. (Still have products left too.) Brittany made 13 bags of doggie treats that flew off the table in sales. Folks said they were great human treats! Information was also available at table for micro-chipping, vet care and shelter concerns. A BIG THANK YOU TO ALL!!!

September: Cat room underwent a total renovation under the loving direction of Carol deHedervary. Dixie, Deb Johnson and Mika Sutherland gave a hand painting. Dixie once again began a dog obedience course on the 15th, again with all proceeds going to FSAS. Raffle tickets continue to sell and the raffle will be held October 1, 2003. Also in October is the Volunteer Recognition Lunch on October 4th.

We were blessed with no Parvo outbreak, thus far. We have found an excellent disinfectant that works well. Mostly is the cleaning that we do that prevents any virus. We have to be diligent in cleaning with this when we do floors, walls, cat room etc.

Winter is approaching and there are changes we have to make to get into the mode, like the outside dogs will need fed twice a day and straw needs to be added to all outside cages and changed as needed, or rather add more once a month to insure proper warmth for them.

Rubber buckets need to be used for water containers outside in winter vs metal ones that do not survive our winters.