14 15 Mobile spay/neuter services help vulnerable pets The Welland & District SPCA rolled into the communities of Cornwall and Pembroke in October 2018 to host a mobile spay/neuter clinic for vulnerable pets. The mobile clinic was stationed in each community for two days, performing 71 spay/neuter procedures and 61 wellness examinations in Pembroke, and 69 spay/neuter procedures and 29 wellness examinations in Cornwall. An entire day was devoted to spaying and neutering cats in Cornwall – a community that struggles with an overpopulation of cats. “It was a huge success,” says John Greer, Executive Director, Welland & District SPCA. “I think the people of Cornwall, in particular, were relieved that they were getting the help they’ve been asking for to address their issue with cat overpopulation.” The mobile clinics were made possible through a collaborative effort between the Welland & District SPCA, the Ontario SPCA Renfrew County Animal Centre and the Ontario SPCA Stormont, Dundas & Glengarry (SD&G) Animal Centre. “We had such positive responses from the communities,” says Amanda Eckersley, Manager, Ontario SPCA Renfrew County Animal Centre. “Owners were so grateful and we filled up appointments very quickly.” Community partners played a critical role in the clinics, including local food banks and social support services, which registered pet owners. The Pembroke Legion and Cornwall Civic Complex graciously hosted, inviting the mobile spay/neuter unit to operate at their locations. Carol Link, Manager, Ontario SPCA SD&G Animal Centre, sees first- hand the number of homeless animals arriving at the animal centre. Controlling pet overpopulation, she says, begins with spaying or neutering pets. “The only long-term solution for pet overpopulation is prevention,” says Link. “Everyone has a role to play in creating healthy communities for pets and people.” A cat undergoes surgery inside the Welland & District SPCA’s mobile spay/neuter unit, which went to Pembroke and Cornwall. Partnerships in Animal Welfare London Humane Society celebrates 120 years with a new name and look After close to 120 years of service, London Humane Society unveiled a new name and look in 2018 to encompass everything it has to offer the London and Middlesex communities. Now known as Humane Society London & Middlesex, it received a complete rebrand, including a new logo, brand identity, website and marketing assets. The digital overhaul was possible thanks to a partnership with Northern Commerce, which is a London-based digital agency. After discovering Humane Society London & Middlesex received no outside funding, Northern Commerce donated $150,000 worth of services. “This partnership has given us access to the resources we need to expand our presence, both online and within the community,” says Steve Ryall, Executive Director, Humane Society London & Middlesex. “We now have a platform to better communicate with the community and ultimately serve them in the most effective way possible.” With the new website, Humane Society London & Middlesex visitors caneasilylearnhowtogetinvolvedandseepetsavailableforadoption. Since the website launch, overall traffic to the site has increased by over 180%, social traffic has increased by over 1500%, and mobile traffic has increased by 3000%. The organization also updated and changed various procedures, including how adoptions are handled. A new streamlined model allows for more personal interactions between people and the animals they want to adopt, dramatically reducing adoption times. Now in its 120th year of operation, Humane Society London & Middlesex is working on several exciting projects to celebrate this milestone year. Humane Society London & Middlesex Board member Michael DeLornzi and Executive Director Steve Ryall with Corey Dubeau, VP Northern Commerce. Partnerships in Animal Welfare Our Pet Project launches community phase of Peterborough Humane Society’s campaign New hospital will allow Georgian Triangle Humane Society to help more animals The campaign to build the Peterborough Humane Society’s new Animal Care Centre has a fresh identity and renewed momentum as it enters the community phase to raise the $10 million needed for the integrated facility. Our Pet Project is the campaign’s new brand designed to showcase how the Peterborough Animal Care Centre will connect pets and people in Peterborough and throughout the county. Over $6.4 million has been raised to date. Our Pet Project campaign chair Chris White, who also serves as treasurer on the Ontario SPCA and Humane Society’s Board of Directors, is leading a dedicated group of volunteers and influencers to raise the remaining $4.6 million to reach their $10 million goal. The Peterborough Humane Society has purchased equipment needed for the high-volume regional spay/neuter clinic that will be a part of the new centre. These vital services will help reduce pet overpopulation by making spay/neuter procedures accessible to people in Eastern, Central and Northern Ontario. The Society received a $161,000 grant from PetSmart Charities of Canada as well as a $50,000 matching grant from the Peterborough Community Futures Development Corporation. The 24,000 sq. ft. facility will also be home to the Peterborough Humane Society’s Adoption and Education Centre. The new space will have the capacity to rehome 2,000 animals each year. “We’vedonealotbehindthescenes,notonlyintermsofthecampaign, but also with regards to the organization,” says Shawn Morey, Executive Director, Peterborough Humane Society. “We are working hard to make sure the foundation of the Peterborough Humane Society is extremely strong and ready to take on this next chapter.” The facility will also be home to the Ontario SPCA Provincial Dog Rehabilitation Centre, a first-of-its-kind in Canada. Using the latest evidence-based research, animal behaviour specialists will create customized rehabilitation plans for dogs that need more support and individualized care because of abuse, neglect or trauma. To learn more visit ourpetproject.ca An artist’s rendering offers a glimpse of what the Peterborough Humane Society’s new Adoption and Education Centre will look like when complete. Transporting animals from the Georgian Triangle Humane Society to veterinary appointments is a thing of the past with the opening of a new companion animal hospital at the Collingwood shelter. In addition to being able to perform spay/neuter procedures on shelter pets, the Georgian Triangle Humane Society Animal Hospital has diagnostic capabilities and a surgical suite. Medications are available on site through the hospital pharmacy. An estimated 1,300 animals are expected to come through the shelter in 2019, with more than 200 community cats expected to be spayed or neutered. “We’re going to be able to help more animals because there’s not going to be a lag waiting for surgery times,” says Sonya Reichel, Executive Director, Georgian Triangle Humane Society. “We’re going to see a reduction in our length of stay, an increase in their overall welfare because they’re not being transported back and forth to veterinary clinics and, because they’re going to get adopted more quickly, we’re going to be able to help more animals.” The $400,000 needed was raised through a “family campaign” made possible thanks to the generosity of donors and a grant through PetSmart Charities. “It’s just another step towards our long-lasting impact on pet overpopulation and increasing the well-being of animals in need,” says Reichel. The Georgian Triangle Humane Society will be able to offer on-site care for shelter pets with its new companion animal hospital. Partnerships in Animal Welfare