Whitehorse animal shelter dismisses director amid funding shortfall

The Mae Bachur Animal Shelter has fired its director.

Betty Irwin was hired last July.On Friday, Irwin confirmed she is no longer employed at the shelter.

Irwin, who is also a Whitehorse city councillor, would not discuss the details surrounding her dismissal.

Brent Slobodin, the president of the Animal Shelter board, says the termination was not due to behaviour.

Slobodin said the shelter is in financial trouble.

"We have to meet payroll, we have to pay our bills," hesaid. "We have to pay about $20,000 a year in oil for example, and coming up with that kind of money when you only get a base of $80,000 is pretty difficult."

That base funding comes from the Yukon government.Slobodin saidthe shelter's annual expenses are around $400,000 per year.

He noted the shelter needs a president who can find sponsorships and new sources of funding so the shelter can stay open.