Firefighters calendar raises $21K for Whitehorse animal shelter

The MaeBachur Animal Shelterin Whitehorsehasreceived a $21,000donation thanks to the sale of charity calendars.

The Whitehorse Firefighters Charitable Association presented the cheque on Monday to theHumane Society Yukon, the organization that runs the shelter.

"It is overwhelming, emotional, I actually burst into tears," says shelter manager Betty Irwin."We are so grateful for the help from the firefighters."

She says operating expenses are high and the money will be put to good use.

The 2015 calendar features shirtless firefighters posing with animals from the shelter.It's proven to be a hot seller, the calendars are sold out.

"We didn't expect anything like this amount of donations," saysChris Guffey, president of the Humane Society Yukon.

He credits the firefighters association andlocal businesses who covered the cost of producing the calendars.

Guffey says half of the money raised will be used forfacility improvements, the other half will go toward medical expenses, food and other animalshelter needs.

In the last month about 30 animals have been placed into the animal shelter.