GUELPH, ON – February 13, 2018 – The GUELPH HUMANE SOCIETY (GHS) today announced it has received a new $61,562 grant from PetSmart Charities of Canada, one of Canada’s leading funders of animal welfare, to help bring low-cost spay and neuter efforts in the City of Guelph, Guelph-Eramosa, and Centre Wellington.
The grant will support a partnership between GHS, the University of Guelph’s Ontario Veterinary College (OVC) and Community Veterinary Outreach, a charity that provides free preventive veterinary care for pets whose owners are homeless or who are vulnerably-housed. This innovative collaboration is the first of its kind in our community. Previously there have been very limited local low-cost spay neuter options available for pet owners who need it the most. The partnership will also add high value experiential-learning opportunities for student veterinarians in training at OVC who participate in the surgeries.
The PetSmart Charities of Canada Grant will fund 10 clinics, beginning in Spring 2019, and will provide approximately 150 spays/neuter surgeries for two specific groups of under-resourced, owned pets. Barn cats are the first group to which the program will be offered. GHS consistently see barns filled with dozens of cats, whose owners recognize the overpopulation problem but cannot afford multiple spay/neuter surgeries. The second group that will benefit from this funding are the cats and dogs of Community Veterinary Outreach clients.
“GHS continues to elevate animal welfare, and it is a great honor to collaborate with OVC and Community Veterinary Outreach to address pet overpopulation of owned animals in our community”, says Lisa Veit, Associate Director at the Guelph Humane Society. “We know there is a tremendous need for this type of program, and we are excited about the impact that this program will have on under-resourced pet owners in our community.”
“Through this grant, we’re pleased to make spay/neuter surgeries more accessible and affordable for eligible pet parents in Guelph and its surrounding communities,” says Dani LaGiglia, Regional Relationship Manager at PetSmart Charities of Canada. “Not only will these subsidized surgeries help families in need and their beloved pets, they’ll also support training the next generation of veterinary leaders from OVC who help out with these high-volume spay/neuter clinics operated by the expert team at the Guelph Humane Society.”
GHS hopes the successful pilot program will lead to a sustainable and long-term low-cost spay/neuter program in the future.
If you would like to learn more, visit guelphhumane.ca or call us at 519-824-3091.
PetSmart Charities of Canada aims to proactively prevent pet homelessness. Since 1999, the organization has granted more than $5 million to support spay and neuter efforts across Canada.
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About Guelph Humane Society:
The Guelph Humane Society advocates for all animals, and in particular those animals whose lives we can influence, through care, education, community support, protection, and leadership. Founded in 1893, the Guelph Humane Society strives to provide innovative care and shelter for approximately 3,000 homeless, stray, injured and abused animals each year. GHS is a registered charitable, non-profit organization that does not receive government funding. GHS is proud to partner with the City of Guelph, Township of Centre Wellington and Township of Guelph-Eramosa to provide animal control services for our community. Visit www.guelphhumane.ca to discover more.
Follow the Guelph Humane Society:
Twitter: @GuelphHumane
Facebook: @GuelphHumaneSociety
Instagram: @the_ghs
About PetSmart Charities® of Canada:
PetSmart® Charities of Canada is committed to finding lifelong, loving homes for all pets by supporting programs and thought leadership that bring people and pets together. Through its in-store adoption program in all PetSmart® stores across Canada, PetSmart Charities of Canada helps to find forever homes and families for more than 25,000 shelter pets each year. PetSmart Charities of Canada also provides grant funding to registered Canadian charities aligned with its mission under four key areas of support: Preventing Pet Homelessness; Helping Shelter Pets Thrive; Supporting the Bond Between People and Pets and Providing Emergency Relief and Disaster Support. Each year, more than 500,000 generous PetSmart shoppers help pets in need by donating to PetSmart Charities of Canada using the PIN pads at the checkouts inside PetSmart stores. In turn, PetSmart Charities of Canada efficiently uses more than 90 cents of every dollar donated to fulfill its role as a leading funder of animal welfare in Canada, granting more than $14 million since its inception in 1999. PetSmart Charities of Canada is a registered Canadian charity, a member of Imagine Canada and is independent from the PetSmart business in Canada. To learn more visit www.petsmartcharities.ca
Follow PetSmart Charities on Twitter: @PetSmartChariTs
Find PetSmart Charities on Facebook: Facebook.com/PetSmartCanada
See PetSmart Charities on YouTube: YouTube.com/PetSmartCharitiesInc
Media Contacts:
Lisa Veit
Guelph Humane Society
519-824-3091
lveit@guelphhumane.ca
Dr. Shane Bateman
Board Chair, GHS
Associate Professor, Department of Clinical Studies (Emergency & Critical Care)
Regional Veterinary Director, Community Veterinary Outreach
519-400-5928
chairbod@guelphhumane.ca
Media Line: 623-587-2177
24-Hour PetSmart Charities