March 2017
March is Fix Your Pet Month Pet overpopulation still exists in Ontario as a direct result of animals left unaltered. Each year, tens of thousands of dogs and cats end up on the streets where they fall victim to neglect and abuse, or in shelters in search of new homes. Over 25,000 animals come into the care of the Ontario SPCA every year. Protecting your pet by having them spayed or neutered can help reduce this number and make our community a safer place for our pets. Spaying/neutering pets will reduce health risks and physical stress, and improve behaviour. Fixed pets are also less likely to roam, reducing the risk of injury, accident and loss. Our goal is to help reduce the number of homeless pets and fix as many animals as possible. With that in mind, the Ontario SPCA and its Affiliate Communities operate high-volume, self-sustaining spay/neuter services across the province, including in Newmarket, Barrie and St. Catharines.  The public, shelters, and rescue groups are welcome, regardless of geography or income level. Help us spread the word about this important issue by participating in our Cone of Fame contest. Let’s change the conversation and encourage pet owners to be proud of the cone pets often wear after spay or neuter surgeries. Join the conversation by posting a photo using #ConeOfFame.
Paws & Hooves program at TSC Stores supports animal rescue and adoption Support animal rescue and adoption when you shop for items for your home, farm, yard or outdoor hobby during Paws & Hooves events at TSC Stores in support of the Ontario SPCA and our Affiliate Communities. For every $2 donation, you’ll receive your choice of a paper paw or hoof to be displayed in the store showing your support. To participate, drop by your local TSC Store (The Incredible Country Hardware Store) during one of their upcoming Paws & Hooves events: April 7 – April 30 May 26 – June 8 July 14 – July 26 Oct 20 – Nov 2 Dec 1 – Dec 14 By participating in the Paws & Hooves program, you’re making a difference in the lives of animals in need.
Thank you for answering our wishes We would like to acknowledge all those in our community who took the time to donate items from our Amazon wish list, as well as blankets for the horses in our care. The response was overwhelming and we cannot express how grateful we are. Generous people like you help make second chances possible for the animals in our care. Thank you!	Volunteers help us every step of the way Our organization relies heavily on the help and support of our volunteers. Sometimes this includes tasks that are not animal related. The Ontario SPCA Barrie Animal Centre would like to take the time to thank Jeff, Ben and Dillis, some of our most dedicated volunteers. They have helped move furniture, drive animals, answer phone calls and provided support in the office. We appreciate their dedication and hard work. Thank you Jeff, Ben and Dillis – and all our volunteers – for everything you do!
National Cupcake Day™ proves to be another sweet success Thanks to you, National Cupcake Day™ in support of SPCAs and Humane Societies was another great success! Delectable and creative cupcakes could be found in communities in every corner of the province – and across the nation – on Feb. 27. Now in its fifth year, National Cupcake Day is as simple as it is sweet. Participants register online to host a National Cupcake Day party in their community on any date in January or February. They then invite co-workers, friends and family to enjoy a sweet treat in support of animals in need. In exchange for a cupcake, guests donate to the participating animal welfare charity of the host’s choice, raising critically-needed funds for animals that are abused, abandoned, neglected or no longer wanted. Celebrity chef Anna Olson, host of the Food Network’s Bake with Anna Olson, was our spokesperson for the campaign in Ontario. As official “Cupcake Crusader” she called on the baking community to rally together to “bake” a difference for animals in need.  Thanks to you – our generous sponsors, participants, donors and cupcake crusaders – the 2017 event was another great success.	Local business honours our staff and volunteers Our community never ceases to amaze us! Trish Jackson and Karim Francis from Shoppers Drug Mart on Cundles Road and Duckworth Street recently came into our centre with some much-needed items for our animals, but also an unexpected surprise for our staff and volunteers. Trish and Karim not only dropped off treats for the animals and litter for the cats, but also brought bouquets of flowers for our volunteers and staff. The gesture was incredibly thoughtful because it was great to be recognized and appreciated by the community. The staff and volunteers were thrilled to be able to enjoy the flowers and have even displayed some in the centre for “people enrichment.” Thank you Trish, Karim and the Shoppers Drug Mart team for your support of the Ontario SPCA Barrie Animal Centre!
Daisy found her match in less than a day Thanks to the support of our community, it never seems to take long for dogs to find their forever homes at the Ontario SPCA Barrie Animal Centre. Daisy is a perfect example. She was recently surrendered into our care and found her home after being up for adoption for only a few hours! Daisy is shown here with her new family. You might wonder what she’s wearing. Daisy is sporting a VetMed Ware onesie that replaces a cone for female animals who have been spayed. All dogs and cats adopted through the Ontario SPCA are spayed and neutered before they can be officially adopted. To help combat pet overpopulation, the Ontario SPCA operates three high-volume spay/neuter services across the province, including the the Ontario SPCA Marion Vernon Memorial Animal Clinic here in Barrie. March is Fix Your Pet Month. Fixing your pet is the kindest thing you can do. Visit fixyourpet.ca to learn more.

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Newshound is a free electronic newsletter published monthly by the Ontario SPCA to inform our supporters and friends of animal welfare about Ontario SPCA Community initiatives, programs, events and experiences. Contents of Newshound may be reproduced with appropriate credit.

Ontario SPCA Barrie Animal Centre
91 Patterson Road, Barrie, ON, CANADA L4N 3V9
Charitable Business #88969-1044-RR0002

Phone: (705) 728-7311
Fax: (705) 728-7243
Email: barrie@ospca.on.ca

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