Betty White’s birthday may be fundraising boost for Okanagan, Kamloops animal shelters

Animal shelters in Kamloops and the Okanagan are hoping the international Betty White Challenge will catch on locally.

When White, who was an animal advocate, died of natural causes on Dec. 31, 2021, she was less than three weeks shy of her 100th birthday on Jan. 17.

To commemorate the icon, who remained sassy until the very end, a grassroots campaign is encouraging animal lovers around the world to make a donation to their local animal shelter on Betty White's birthday.

“It’s a fantastic way to honour Betty White in something she was so passionate about, the welfare of animals,” said Annie Monod, operator of Warren Peace Bunny Sanctuary in Lake Country.

“Any of the rescues or shelters across the world would be honoured to receive donations in her name."

Monod said donations are extra helpful right now as shelter costs have soared over the past year due to several natural disasters across the country.

READ MORE: Betty White, an ageless TV star, was America's sweetheart

Diane Nicholson, co-owner of Twin Heart Animal Sanctuary in Tappen, agrees that caring for animals has become far more expensive in the past year.

“Hay and straw is almost twice as much, if you can even get it,” she said.

Twin Heart is home to goats, chickens, ducks, turkeys, alpacas, pigs and a donkey.

“All would have gone to slaughterhouse long ago if we hadn’t taken them,” Nicholson said.

She remembers Betty White as a cool person and talented actor.

“I’m old, I saw her in all the early shows. I just enjoyed watching her throughout the years… and she certainly was a big person for wild animals and pets," she said.

READ MORE: Betty White, TV’s Golden Girl, dies at 99

B.C. SPCA is also grateful the late actress is being remembered for her animal advocacy.

“Betty did so much to raise awareness about the value of animals in our society and was passionate about their care and protection,” said Lorie Chortyk, communications manager for the B.C. SPCA.

The SPCA has shelters in Kamloops, Kelowna, Vernon and Penticton.

“As animal lovers we have been touched to see Betty’s work on behalf of animals celebrated by the #bettywhitechallenge,” Chortyk said.

Happy Tails Cat Rescue in Oliver is also embracing what would have been the actor's 100th birthday. The organization is less than a year old and does not yet qualify as a registered charity, so any extra donations will go a long way, founder Shari Rowland said. 

One of Rowland's favourite quotes of Betty White's was, "Animals are near and dear to my heart, and I've devoted my life to trying to improve their lives."

"And that’s what we try and do at Happy Tails," she said. 

Anybody wishing to support the shelters and sanctuaries mentioned can find Warren Peace Bunny Sanctuary’s donor page here, Twin Heart Animal Sanctuary’s webpage here, the B.C. SPCA’s page here, and Happy Tails' site here. 

To contact a reporter for this story, email Dan Walton or call 250-488-3065 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.

We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above.