GUELPH, ON (May 10, 2021) – The Guelph Humane Society (GHS) is pleased to announce a $25,000 grant from PetSmart Charities of Canada to help more kittens find homes this kitten season. This funding will help to offset kitten-care related costs for the approximately 400 kittens that will arrive at GHS between spring and fall 2021.
With 400 kittens anticipated at GHS over the next few months, this means 400 spay/neuter surgeries, facilitating 400 adoptions, and providing roughly 1,000 vaccinations.
“Kitten season is a busy time for every shelter environment,” says Lisa Veit, Associate Director of GHS. “Our capacity to care for kittens has doubled since the move to our brand-new facility, and this generous grant from PetSmart Charities of Canada will allow GHS to invest in some key areas to help more kittens get adopted successfully.”
One of those key areas is enrichment. Whether in the shelter or in a foster home, the goal is to house kittens with other kittens for socialization and play. This also includes the development of a fostering manual, which will equip fosters with best practice approaches, more effective socialization, and lead to faster adoption rates.
“In our new building, our cat rooms and adjustable cat portals are equipped with larger spaces that give us the ability to house kittens with other kittens,” says Veit. “Having at least one known kitten companion is a strong form of enrichment, providing companionship, a play mate, cuddle buddy and general company. In foster homes, we plan to pair solo kittens up together to encourage socialization.”
Veit adds that at the new facility, GHS has doubled its capacity to care for cats – giving staff the space and resources needed to provide medical care to more kittens during this vulnerable stage of life.
The first kitten of the season arrived at GHS on April 21st. He was bottle fed by staff, and was quickly moved into a foster home with other cats until he is ready to be neutered and then adopted out into a loving home. Hundreds of others just like him will be arriving over the next few months, and thanks to this grant from PetSmart Charities of Canada, GHS is in a position to provide these kittens the enrichment, socialization and care they need to be successfully adopted.
“With this funding, we are thrilled to support GHS’s efforts to help more kittens get adopted at such a busy time in the year and proactively reduce the homeless pet population throughout the area,” said Charlotte Palmer, Adoption Grants Manager at PetSmart Charities of Canada. “This work and GHS’s new building will help even more pets find loving homes while freeing up space for additional pets in need.”
Once kittens are ready for adoption, they are placed on our Available Animals webpage as our contactless adoptions continue. If you’re interested in adopting a kitten, keep an eye on https://guelphhumane.ca/adopt/available-animals/ over the coming months.
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About the Guelph Humane Society
The Guelph Humane Society advocates for all animals, and in particular those animals whose lives it can influence, through care, education, community support, protection, 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 in Guelph and Wellington County. GHS is a registered charitable, non-profit organization that does not receive government funding. Visit www.guelphhumane.ca to discover more.
Follow GHS:
Facebook: @guelphhumanesociety
Twitter: @guelphhumane
Instagram: @the_ghs
Media Contact
Natalie Thomas
Manager, Marketing and Communications
Guelph Humane Society
519-824-3091
nthomas@guelphhumane.ca