One of Canada’s largest pet supply stores is donating $1.6 million worth of its dog and cat food Performatrin to help animals across Canada, including here in Orillia.
Pet Valu's hefty donation, which weighs more than 335,000 pounds and includes more than 33,000 bags of kibble, will be delivered to the Ontario SPCA, along with four other organizations.
Around 200,000 pounds of that food, for both cats and dogs, is earmarked for the Ontario SPCA, which represents about a year’s supply of meals.
Bonnie Bishop, the regional director with the Ontario SPCA and Humane Society’s community outreach services department, says she's 'over the moon' with the enormous generosity of Pet Valu.
“We have 13 animal centres across the province, and 64,000 pounds of this food will be distributed in the Barrie and surrounding areas. We have already distributed around 5,000 pounds there currently through the Barrie Food Bank, who are fantastic, and we are fortunate to be able to partner with them and the other food banks,” she explained.
As a registered charity that does not receive government funding, Bishop says the Ontario SPCA depends on the generosity of donors to help animals in need.
“We periodically get food donations from corporations, but this is a very large one. We’ve seen the demand for pet food increase and thanks to this generous donation, we are able to keep furry bellies full by providing pet food to food banks across the province,” she added.
The community will certainly benefit from this large donation, as the Ontario SPCA will provide the kibble to food banks, other rescue partners, and distribute it to their own local animal centres that are open to the public, for people who are struggling to feed their pets.
“We are seeing the financial struggles that people are facing," Bishop said. "It’s become difficult for some people to be able to afford to properly care for their pets. This program is going to make it a lot easier for people. And we hear about those struggles when we drop food off at food banks, personally.
“I have dogs, a cat and a rabbit. I could not imagine being in a position of having to make difficult decisions about the welfare of your pet due to financial restrictions," she added.
Bishop said the Ontario OSPCA has a lot of resources and they encourage people who are struggling to visit their website to see if they can help through their support services.
"Our goal is to try and keep pets with their families and prevent unnecessary re-homing," she said.
Visit the Ontario SPCA and Humane Society website at www.OntarioSPCA.ca, where people can find additional resources and information, and help with other issues with their furry loved ones, such as separation anxiety, behavioural issues, and much more.
