Guelph, ON (April 21, 2023) – On Thursday, the Guelph Humane Society was pleased to recognize a $29,300 Resilient Communities Fund grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF), which has supported the organization be better positioned to help local vulnerable pet owners and their animals.
“As the MPP for Guelph I would like to extend a sincere congratulations to the Guelph Humane Society for receiving the Resilient Communities Fund Grant. The Guelph Humane Society provides invaluable resources to our community and does vital work with their animal rehabilitation services,” said MPP Mike Schreiner. “Their strong educational programs have impacted the lives of thousands of children and youth, further promoting humane practices within the community. The Resilient Communities Fund grant is sure to help these services continue within Guelph and will support the Humane Society’s future endeavors in helping local animals and individuals living in our community. Thank you to the Guelph Humane Society for their continued commitment to promoting the importance of humane animal care within the City of Guelph.”
The OTF grant, received in spring 2022, has equipped GHS team members with upgraded skills to meet the growing needs of participants in its GHS Care programs— programs that support disadvantaged populations by reducing barriers, increasing access to essential services and protecting the human-animal bond. With staff wellness in mind, and through developed relationships with Canadian Mental Health Association Waterloo-Wellington and Compass Community Services, the grant has also enabled GHS team members to receive Mental Health First Aid training, certified by the Mental Health Commission of Canada. Team sessions to build empathy skills and resilience are also available. The grant also provided start-up support for a pet food bank to help Guelph and Wellington pet owners care for their pets during difficult times.
“The Guelph Humane Society’s GHS Cares Programs help Guelph and Wellington’s vulnerable pet owning community members access the social assistance they need by filling unrecognized gaps in our social service and healthcare system,” says Lisa Veit, GHS’s Executive Director. “We are grateful for the Ontario Trillium Foundation’s support and the ability to give our team the tools they need to address high pressure and potentially challenging situations.”
The GHS food bank program will officially open in April 2023 with additional support from local pet food supplier MarCam. Food will be stored at The Seed and available through distribution partners Chalmers Centre, Wyndham House, and the Guelph Community Health Centre’s Community Health Van.
“Economic hardship, such as housing insecurity and the cost of living, including the rising cost of caring for pets, are some of the most common reasons we are currently seeing for pet surrenders to GHS,” says Veit. “Pets are known to help reduce stress, anxiety, and depression, and ease loneliness and isolation. The GHS Cares pet food bank aims to reduce pressures on families, by providing a consistent, reliable, source of healthy food for pets in their care, and ultimately, keeping more pets and people together.”
Members of the community that wish to donate food are asked to contact Guelph Humane Society by email (programs@guelphhumane.ca) or phone (519-824-3091).
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 on social: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok: @guelphhumane
The Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF), an agency of the Government of Ontario, and one of Canada’s leading granting foundations celebrates 40 years of grantmaking in Ontario and making a lasting impact in communities. Last year, OTF invested nearly $209M into 2,042 community projects and partnerships, which included funding for the Government of Ontario’s Community Building Fund. Visit otf.ca to learn more.
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Media Contact:
Jane Dawkins
Director Communications and Community Engagement
Guelph Humane Society
519-824-3091
jdawkins@guelphhumane.ca