Make tails wag and wishes come true with the Ontario SPCA’s Home for the Holidays adoption campaign

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Whitby, ON (Dec. 1, 2025) – The Humane Society of Durham Region is on a mission to make dreams come true this holiday season for animals and their new families with its Home for the Holidays adoption campaign, running until Dec. 24.

Last year, the Humane Society of Durham Region found loving homes for 621 animals. To date in 2025, it has already had more than 700 animals come into its care. The animal centre’s goal is to find loving homes for 67 animals during the Home for the Holidays campaign. Animals adopted from the Humane Society of Durham Region are spayed or neutered, microchipped, and vaccinated, and they go home with food from Royal Canin to help ensure a smooth transition into their new life.

With more people home during the holidays, now is an ideal time to welcome an animal into your family. Whether it’s an affectionate cat who’s been patiently watching others go home or a gentle senior dog still full of love to give, each adoption helps change a life – both for the animal and the family who opens their heart.

“Every animal deserves to experience the joy of home,” says Shannon Stephenson, Manager of the Humane Society of Durham Region, one of 14 Ontario SPCA animal centres across the province. “We have some very special animals who have been patiently waiting for a loving family to call their own and we’re hoping this holiday season will be their time to finally make their wishes come true.”

Those unable to adopt can still make a difference this holiday season. Donations help provide shelter and medical care for animals waiting for their forever homes. Supporters can also shop Paws & Give™, the Ontario SPCA’s online giving store filled with gifts that give back – from gifts for that special someone on your list, to toys for shelter animals. Every purchase helps give animals in need a second chance.

Visit hsdr.org to meet animals looking for homes this holiday season. If can’t adopt, please make a donation or shop Paws & Give™ at pawsandgive.ca. Together we can make this a season of love, hope, and happy new beginnings for animals across Ontario.

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Note to producers/editors: B-roll is available at https://youtu.be/CAIbUlL_TFE

Media Contact

Kayla Montes
Community Outreach Coordinator,
Humane Society of Durham Region
289-894-3404
kmontes@ontariospca.ca

The Humane Society of Durham Region

The Humane Society of Durham Region is a registered charity. For over 30 years, the HSDR has been dedicated to protecting and providing compassionate care for unwanted and abused animals in Durham Region until they find their forever homes. Committed to improving the lives of animals, HSDR provides education and resources to the community.

In August 2022, the HSDR formally joined the Ontario SPCA and Humane Society to combine the organizations. This will enable the HSDR to strengthen and grow the programs and community support services it provides to help animals and the families who love them.

The Humane Society of Durham Region acknowledges the lands and people of the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation, which is covered under the Williams Treaties. The HSDR is situated on the traditional territory of the Mississaugas, a branch of the greater Anishinaabeg Nation, which includes Algonquin, Ojibway, Odawa and Pottawatomi.