New adoptee provides comfort

This past September, Christina and her family adopted “Tenner”, a loving and playful cat from us here at the Ontario SPCA Barrie Branch.

In the few days following his arrival in their home, tragedy struck when Christina’s husband unexpectedly passed away. Christina and her three children were heartbroken. When they returned from the hospital, Tenner ran up to the children and has been glued to their sides ever since. Christina reports he has been a source of unconditional love and comfort during this difficult time.

“This was the best decision I ever made for my family and I wanted to thank you and all the staff at the Barrie location for taking care of Tenner until he found us. We absolutely love him,” said Christina. As the Lavigne family heals, we know Tenner will be with them every step of the way.

Local Canine Trainer Shares her Skills

We are so excited to have Kathy Currie from TopDog K9 Services volunteering her time and services to help the dogs at our shelter. 

When they need that "little extra" to fine tune their skills prior to adoption, Kathy and her team at TopDog K9 open their classes to our shelter dogs.  The dogs are helped with their recall and obedience skills, socialization and even refresher classes for walking on the leash.

Thanks to Kathy and her team for helping the dogs here at the Ontario SPCA Barrie Branch!

Walking for a Great Cause!

We were so thankful for all of the participants, supporters and staff that joined us for this year’s Friends for Life! Walk™ at Sunnidale Park in Barrie.

Not only did we enjoy a great day out with our furry friends, but money raised went toward the animals here at the Ontario SPCA Barrie Branch. 

We raised 90% of our fundraising goal! We would also like to thank our awesome local sponsors including B101, Chay FM, TopDog K9, Fox's Bakery, Tim Hortons, Thee Place for Paws, and Bark Busters.

Thanks to everyone who participated for all your great contributions!

Fall Pet Safety

Autumn is a wonderful time of year to get outdoors with your pet.  Fresh scents, fallen leaves, perfect weather…the stage is set for new adventures. 

There are different risks that occur with the changing of seasons, so whether you are venturing outdoors, or remaining indoors, pet safety should always be a priority.

Visit the Ontario SPCA Blog for fall pet safety tips and get out there and enjoy the weather with your furry friends.

Volunteering Can Turn Into a Career

Lending a helping hand can not only warm your heart, it can provide an opportunity to get your "foot in the door" and develop skills to help advance your career. 

At the Ontario SPCA, volunteers are an integral part of our operations and often take on an array of responsibilities from socializing the animals, assisting with events, and lending their voice to the animals in need.  For many, coming into the shelters is a way to give back to the community, but for others it is the beginning of a career path.

If you are looking for a rewarding volunteer experience that can help build your resume, why not check out the opportunities available at one of the Ontario SPCA Branches.

Pet Insurance - Is it Right for You?

Vet bills aren’t cheap! Just how much are you willing to pay for your pet’s health? For many, it’s not a question of cost to save their fur babies. However, not everyone can afford to spend thousands of dollars on procedures for their pets, which is why Ontario SPCA Pet Insurance can be a great option.

Take Marc's story as an example. At a young age, his Siberian Husky named Kodi, developed colitis. Shortly after that, he was diagnosed with epilepsy and required extensive treatment.

Since they had opted out of purchasing pet insurance, the cost of Kodi’s testing, diagnosis, pricey medications, bimonthly blood testing, visits to emergency, holistic food and a slew of other medical expenses, quickly added up.

Marc didn’t hesitate to purchase pet insurance for his next two puppies.