February 4, 2020—GUELPH, ON – The Guelph Humane Society (GHS) received a $75,000 grant from PetSmart Charities of Canada, to support the Guelph Humane Society’s new building. Currently under construction at 190 Hanlon Creek Blvd, the new building is scheduled to be completed this Fall 2020.
With this grant, GHS will preserve the bond between pets and their people by helping to build a Flexible Holding Space in the new building. The Flexible Holding Space can be utilized when animals enter the Pets in Transition program and are waiting to be placed in a specially trained, confidential foster home. This Flexible Holding Space will be able accommodate bonded pairs and more pets, and will be a safe, confidential space for owners to interact with pets if they choose to visit them. Overall, the focus of this space is to minimize the stress of the animals during their stay.
Pets in Transition at GHS is a collaboration with Community Veterinary Outreach (CVO), Guelph-Wellington Women in Crisis (WiC), Canadian Mental Health Association Waterloo Wellington (CMHA), and other local vets and animal welfare organizations. The Pets in Transition program supports women fleeing violence and individuals experiencing significant mental health concerns by making sure that everyone in the home, both human and animal, has a safe place to recover. The Guelph Humane Society places pets with foster caregivers who have undergone specialized training. Thanks to the generosity of PetSmart Charities of Canada, the program will also provide everyday pet care items and services like high-quality pet food and veterinary care, if required.
“We are so thankful for this recent grant of $75,000 from PetSmart Charities of Canada in support of our new building, in addition to their support of the Pets in Transition program” says Adrienne McBride, Executive Director of the Guelph Humane Society. “Our goal is within reach as we have raised $7.08 million dollars of our $10 million goal. We are excited to include PetSmart Charities of Canada in the generous community of donors supporting the new building.”
“PetSmart Charities of Canada is pleased to provide a grant to the Guelph Humane Society as they continue to grow their Pets in Transition program to help pets and pet parents who are facing challenging life transitions in their region,” said Dani LaGiglia, regional relationship manager at PetSmart Charities of Canada. “We look forward to evolving our partnership as the organization works to open their Flexible Holding Space, to ensure people and pets stay together.”
Since 1999, through its partnership with more than 220 humane societies, SPCAs and pet rescues across Canada, PetSmart Charities of Canada has helped more than 300,000 pets to find loving homes via its in-store adoption program in over 140 PetSmart® stores. The leading funder of animal welfare has also donated more than $19 million to improve access to veterinary care, to positively impact communities, to connect people and pets and to help preserve families through initiatives like this with the Guelph Humane Society.
Pictured: Cara and Reese two sisters who were surrendered into GHS’s care in 2019 when Cara was pregnant.
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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, and leadership. Founded in 1893, the Guelph Humane Society provides care and shelter for approximately 3,000 homeless, stray, injured and abused animals each year. GHS is a registered charitable, non-profit organization. Visit www.guelphhumane.ca to discover more.
For 50 years, GHS has resided at 500 Wellington St. W., near the City’s wastewater treatment plant. From a small, overcrowded location GHS provides care to thousands of vulnerable animals each year, including domestic, wild and farm animals. The new facility will improve the health and wellbeing animals during their stay at GHS with updated, larger and more comfortable animal spaces. There will also be large space dedicated to community outreach.
To learn more about the new facility and Unleashing Hope Capital Campaign, visit https://guelphhumane.ca/get-involved/our-new-home/.
Follow us:
Facebook: @guelphhumanesociety
Twitter: @guelphhumane
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. 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 checkout registers 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 $19 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 Canada & PetSmart Charities of Canada on Facebook: www.Facebook.com/PetSmartCanada
Follow PetSmart Canada & PetSmart Charities of Canada on Instagram: www.instagram.com/PetSmartCanada
See PetSmart Charities on YouTube: YouTube.com/PetSmartCharitiesInc
Media Contact:
Adrienne McBride
Executive Director
519-824-3091
ed@guelphhumane.ca
Stephan Petar
Golin for PetSmart Charities of Canada
647-475-4497
spetar@golin.com