Guelph Humane Society continues to connect people with furry friends

Guelph Humane Society continues to connect people with furry friends despite COVID-19

2021 brings a new location, exciting initiatives, and new pets up for adoption at the Guelph Humane Society

SHANNON MUSTARD

CREDIT: NATALIE THOMAS / GUELPH HUMANE SOCIETY

Finding joy in the little moments has become even more important as the pandemic continues into 2021. A virtual visit to the Guelph Humane Society (GHS) this summer is sure to bring a smile to your face and lighten your spirits.

The GHS, newly located at 190 Hanlon Creek Blvd, provides shelter and services such as adoption and veterinary care for a variety of animals. Each year the GHS shelters animals who may have been homeless, injured or abandoned, and the employees are proud to be advocates for these animals. While the GHS houses cute and cuddly friends who cheer us up, their mission is to ensure that these critters find a loving and responsible home.

Prior to their recent move, the GHS was located at 500 Wellington St. for over 50 years.

Natalie Thomas, manager of marketing and communications at the GHS, told The Ontarion in an email that the new location allowed “our capacity to care for dogs to increase by 125 per cent and has even doubled for cats.”

At the new location, “the dogs have their own in and out doggy doors to soak up the sunshine, along with spacious cat runs and dedicated farm animal rooms for the cats and chickens,” Thomas said. “[Employees are] very proud of the new building, and we cannot wait for our community to be allowed in to see it for themselves.”

Seeing as the GHS is an organization funded by donations, Thomas says it graciously thanks all of the generous donors who continue to make their life-changing work possible. Funding from donors and GHS initiatives has been more imperative than ever during the COVID-19 pandemic.

From April 20 to 30, the GHS is running an event called “Happy Sales for Happy Tails,” a virtual craft and artisan market that will donate a portion of the proceeds back to the Humane Society.

They also ran an online 50/50 lottery from March 15 to April 15, with a final winning prize of $43,325. If you missed the 50/50, Thomas says not to fret since the GHS plans to host a couple more 50/50 lotteries throughout the year.

“Farm to Home” is another new initiative that the GHS launched this year, which provides farmers and rural residents with the opportunity to surrender friendly barn cats residing on their property to the GHS at no additional cost. The GHS will then find a loving home for these cats, and the barn cat population on your property might become a little more manageable.

Like most businesses during COVID-19, the GHS has closed its doors to the public and moved most of its services online. All in-person events, such as fundraisers and summer camps, have been cancelled or postponed to a later date.

With the implementation of COVID-19 safety protocols, the GHS team has gotten creative with the adoption process. They have created a virtual adoption procedure that abides by COVID-19 safety guidelines, all while still providing you with the opportunity to adopt a pet.

If you are interested in viewing the animals that are currently up for adoption, you can find more information on the GHS’s website under ‘Available Animals.’ If you find an animal that you would love to adopt, you can submit an adoption application to the GHS team. Many of the animals are very popular and receive a number of adoption applications; the GHS will try to find the best match for each animal, which will then be followed by a Zoom virtual meet and greet.

If you are interested in adding a furry friend to your family or interested in supporting the GHS and their animals, you can visit their website at guelphhumane.ca.