08/11/2024
We are honoured to have been one of the organizations selected as the recipient of this great initiative!
Thank you Community Initiative for Animal Rescue ❤️
A Niagara-on-the-Lake family’s Christmas fundraiser for animal welfare is set for Nov. 23 and 30.
The multi-day flower sale, bake sale and pet food drive will support the Niagara Spay Neuter Assistance Program and REBEL Dog Rescue.
The fundraiser is timely, taking place just a month after three kittens were found abandoned in NOTL.
The whole situation raises awareness of animal cruelty and the importance of having pets fixed, says fundraiser organizer Tanya Rice, who will host the event at her family home with her husband Peter.
“We always stress to people to spay, neuter and microchip (their pets),” Rice told The Lake Report.
“Unfortunately, since the COVID pandemic, dumping of animals has become a pandemic internationally.”
Factors such as reduced hours for spay and neuter clinics during the pandemic, high costs of living, and pandemic pets have contributed to the surge in unwanted animals, Rice said.
“With the pandemic, we had kids being homeschooled, parents were home … working online, and a lot of families went out and got pets or added an extra pet to their home,” she said.
“Veterinarians also had reduced hours, so, to get your animal in for spay or neutering, it was difficult.”
Add food insecurity to the list and you have compounded the animal abandonment problem, she added.
“Not only are families struggling to put food on the tables for themselves, but the cost of keeping a pet — pet food, litter and veterinarian bills — it all has increased in the last four years as well. So we’re seeing more and more strays.”
The fundraiser will be held at Rice’s home at 456 Line 2 Rd. from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. each day.
Christmas porch planters, fresh wreaths, holiday baking, jams, red pepper jelly and pickles will be available for purchase with 100 per cent of the proceeds going to the Niagara Spay Neuter Assistance Program and REBEL Dog Rescue.
Coconut Quartz, a NOTL home-based operation specializing in handcrafted gemstone and stone bead accessories, will be on-site selling the custom “we love pets” bracelets.
A portion of the proceeds from those sales will be donated to the cause.
“In addition, we’ll be hosting a food drive for rescue groups,” said a press Nov. 1 press release
“Canned cat and dog food (kitten & puppy), kibble and cat litter (new litter boxes) are always a necessity and greatly appreciated.”
For more information or to make a donation contact [email protected].
