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NEWS RELEASE: Guelph Humane Society delivers no-cost spay/neuter services to Guelph/Wellington’s most vulnerable pets, thanks to a generous grant from PetSmart Charities of Canada

August 23, 2022
Katherine, GHS community programs and outreach coordinator, and Eva kneeling with pet patient Bear, a large fluffy dog

GUELPH, ON (August 23, 2022) – The Guelph Humane Society (GHS), in collaboration with the Ontario Veterinary College’s (OVC) Kim and Stu Lang Community Healthcare Partnership Program (CHPP), is offering no-cost spay/neuter clinics for cats and dogs throughout 2022-2023 at pop-up locations in Guelph and Wellington County – thanks to a $125,000 grant from PetSmart Charities of Canada.

“The goal of these clinics is to increase fair and equitable access to veterinary care for disadvantaged populations and underserved areas in Guelph and Wellington,” says Lisa Veit, GHS’s executive director. “This is the first time GHS has been able to offer these types of services to our broader community outside the limits of the City of Guelph —our goal is to deliver care to 300 pets in need over the next eight months.”    Prevention and wellness are the focus of each clinic and services include spay/neuter surgery, vaccines and microchipping. Pet owners must be prequalified and meet the program’s requirements.  “Preventative care for pets is a critical component to their wellness,” said Aimee Gilbreath, president of PetSmart Charities of Canada. “It’s also a matter of community health, and we’re proud to partner with the Guelph Humane Society to support this effort. It’s one more tool we can use to ensure pets and people stay together, giving each other the benefits of unconditional love and companionship. And stable families build strong communities.”  To date, the team has operated nine pop-up clinics, which improved access to care for 107 pet owners and provided 127 surgical procedures for pets.   “What is important about these clinics is that we are providing access to care within communities,” says Dr. Lynn Henderson, veterinary director OVC CHHP, University of Guelph. “This not only means we are providing financial access to care but also addressing geographic and transportation barriers.”  To qualify for the no-cost spay/neuter clinics, clients must be residents of Guelph or Wellington County and meet at least one of the following criteria:  
  • Experiencing economic hardship and receiving social support of some kind (i.e., ODSP, Ontario Works, GIS) 
  • Experiencing housing insecurity, is precariously housed, or is at risk of homelessness 
  • Being emergency sheltered (including stays in overnight shelters, or those for people impacted by family violence) 
  • Qualify for a City of Guelph or Wellington County subsidy program (i.e., Affordable Bus Pass, FAIR, Child Care Subsidy) 
Clinics in Wellington County successfully concluded on August 20. Guelph clinic dates are currently fully booked and ‘wait list only’, anyone interested in these services is encouraged to reach out to GHS for more information.   Veit says, “It is so rewarding to see the positive impact this program is having on pet owners in our community and to deliver care for cats and dogs that may otherwise be out of reach.”   -30-    Multimedia:  Downloadable Photo Asset: GHS community programs & outreach coordinator Katherine with Eva and pet patient Bear.jpg   Caption: Guelph Humane Society/Ontario Veterinary College pop-up clinic patient, Bear, with GHS community programs & outreach coordinator, Katherine and volunteer, Eva. 
 
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About the Guelph Humane Society  The Guelph Humane Society advocates for all animals, and in particular those animals whose lives it can influence, through care, education, community support, protection, and leadership. Founded in 1893, the Guelph Humane Society provides care and shelter for approximately 3,000 homeless, stray, injured and abused animals each year in Guelph and Wellington County. GHS is a registered charitable, non-profit organization that does not receive government funding. Visit www.guelphhumane.ca to discover more.  Follow GHS:   Facebook: @guelphhumanesociety   Twitter: @guelphhumane   Instagram: @the_ghs    Media Contact:  Jane Dawkins  Director Communications and Community Engagement  Guelph Humane Society  519-824-3091  jdawkins@guelphhumane.ca   

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