Barb Ashmead says three people have been going around and stealing the donation tins for local non-profits in the Qualicum Beach area.
Ashmead told The NEWS that three people were caught on camera at Qualicum Foods stealing the tins, which Ashmead said are usually placed by the cash registers.
Ashmead, director of administration, funding and sponsorship for Vancouver Island Compassion Dogs, also runs Qualicum Cat Rescue out of her store Qualicum Pet Foods.
She said tins have been stolen for Qualicum Cat Rescue and Vancouver Island Compassion Dogs, as well as the SPCA.
“For Qualicum Cat Rescue, in the last three weeks we’ve given out 16 spay/neuter certificates — free spay/neuter certificates for female cats. We rely on people’s donations and those cash tins, and so somebody’s waked off with them.”
She said VICD doesn’t rely as heavily on the donation tins, but every little bit helps.
“It helps every month to have those tins. The money goes toward the programs and helps the military veterans.”
Ashmead said she found out about the tins initially about two weeks ago, and the RCMP were notified, but tins were stolen again this week.
She said she’s unsure how many businesses were hit, but she said Qualicum Cat Rescue and VICD, between the two organizations, has donation tins placed in about a dozen local shops.
She said employees at Qualicum Foods were upset when they found out the money was stolen.
“One of the ladies at the counter where you get your breakfast at QF, they just about went through the roof when it was stolen. Our dogs go there every week to work, so they get to know the veterans and they see the dogs.”
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