While some of the HBSPCA services are well known such as Animal Adoption and Spay/Neuter, a recent stakeholder survey revealed that other critical services offered for animal welfare are less known such as free/low-cost vet care for pets belonging to our most vulnerable citizens, end of life care and bereavement counselling, animal surrender, microchip and vaccination clinics, and protection for animals who are abused or neglected.

The #WeCare4AnimalWelfare campaign provides the public with information on HBSPCA services and highlights the 5 Freedoms of Animal Welfare including freedom from hunger and thirst, freedom from discomfort, freedom from pain, injury and disease, freedom to express normal behaviours and freedom from fear and distress. 

The campaign features Frankie and Peppermint and will be on social media, in the HBSPCA newsletter, on the website and other promotional material.

“As our community struggles through this pandemic we must care for the welfare of our animals and let our vulnerable citizens know that we are here to help them care for the welfare of their constant companions,” said Melanie Barlow, CEO of HBSPCA. 

For interviews contact:

Melanie Barlow, CEO 

(905) 574-7722

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Hamilton, ON (November 25, 2020) – Life continues to get better for cats and their families every day in Hamilton.  PetSmart Charities of Canada has granted $74,904 to the Hamilton/Burlington SPCA (HBSPCA) to help chronically under-resourced pets and their people access basic veterinary care.

“We are humbled by the trust PetSmart Charities of Canada has in the HBSPCA Team for 6 years now to keep pets and their people together,” says Marion Emo, CEO. “This year, the grant will fund access to affordable spay/neuter surgeries, and health and wellness clinics for vulnerable pets in partnership with social service agencies in Hamilton. Proactive and preventative care for pets prevents illness and disease, reduces costs and keeps pets at home where they belong.”

“HBSPCA has proven to be a trusted community ally, and we are proud to once again partner to provide vital resources to pets in need,” said Dani LaGiglia, regional relationship manager at PetSmart Charities of Canada. “The organization’s holistic approach and collaborative efforts will continue to remove the barriers to affordable pet health and wellness care throughout Hamilton and surrounding communities.” While pets and people together are a wellness combination, PetSmart Charities of Canada has long recognized the variety of barriers to accessible veterinary care in Canadian communities including but not limited to language, culture, poverty, or access to transportation.

Food bank usage in Hamilton reflects poverty. The 2019 Hunger Report (Feed Ontario) showed Hamilton having the 2nd highest food bank usage per capita in all of Ontario in 2018 with 12,300 (12 in every 100) people making 111,828 food bank visits. That same report shows, for Hamilton, that ODSP income was $486 less than the monthly Market Basket Measure and that Ontario Works income was $922 less than the same measure. Little has changed and the Times of COVID have exasperated pet families’ situations.

“Although some say that people should have pets only if they can meet their full cost of care,” reflects Karen Reichheld, Senior Manager, Animal Care, “we know that animals make a difference in people’s health and well-being every day.  There are people who get up every morning because they have a pet companion who is their best friend. Isolated seniors agree to hospital care only when their pet companions are fostered and provided basic veterinary care. And the relationships between differently abled persons and horses are restorative. Pets and people are a healing combination”.

The grant will subsidize co-pay spay/neuter surgeries and health and wellness clinics commencing June 2021.

Contact information: Marion Emo, CEO. 905-574-7722 ext. 310.

About the Hamilton-Burlington SPCA

The Hamilton/Burlington SPCA (HBSPCA) keeps pets and their people together, helps pet owners be the pet parents they want to be and rehomes neglected and abandoned animals for second chance lives.

Charitable Registration # 11923 6750 RR0001

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/HBSPCA

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hamiltonburlingtonspca/

Twitter https://twitter.com/HB_SPCA

About PetSmart Charities® of Canada

PetSmart Charities® of Canada is committed to finding lifelong, loving homes for all pets by supporting programs and thought leadership that bring people and pets together. Through its in-store adoption program in all PetSmart® stores across Canada, PetSmart Charities of Canada helps to find forever homes and families for more than 30,000 shelter pets each year. PetSmart Charities of Canada also provides grant funding to registered Canadian charities aligned with its mission. Each year, more than 500,000 generous PetSmart shoppers help pets in need by donating to PetSmart Charities of Canada using the PIN pads at checkout registers inside PetSmart stores. In turn, PetSmart Charities of Canada efficiently uses more than 90 cents of every dollar donated to fulfill its role as a leading funder of animal welfare in Canada, granting more than $21.7 million since its inception in 1999. PetSmart Charities of Canada is a registered Canadian charity, a member of Imagine Canada and is independent from the PetSmart business in Canada. To learn more visit www.petsmartcharities.ca

Follow PetSmart Charities on Twitter: @PetSmartChariTs

Find PetSmart Canada & PetSmart Charities of Canada on Facebook: www.Facebook.com/PetSmartCanada

Follow PetSmart Canada & PetSmart Charities of Canada on Instagram: www.instagram.com/PetSmartCanada

See PetSmart Charities on YouTube: YouTube.com/PetSmartCharitiesInc

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Hamilton, ON (Monday, November 23, 2020) The Board of Directors of the Hamilton/Burlington SPCA (HBSPCA) is pleased to announce the appointment of Melanie Barlow as incoming President and CEO effective November 30, 2020.

Melanie succeeds Marion Emo who will be leaving her role at the end of November following a remarkable eight-year tenure of building partnerships to support improved access to care and rehoming for animals at risk in our community.

“On behalf of the Board of Directors, I am delighted to welcome Melanie Barlow as the incoming CEO at the HBSPCA on November 30”, says Kim Ciavarella, Chair. “Melanie’s knowledge of the community we serve, her understanding of vulnerable populations and her program leadership will support HBSPCA’s service to community well into the future”.

“At the same time, we say good-bye to Marion Emo who has led our organization through extraordinary changes in the animal welfare sector locally, provincially, and nationally. Marion’s steadfast leadership has truly reflected the principle of being in service to community. Marion and her extraordinary team of staff and volunteers have expanded access to animal well-being for chronically under-resourced pet families with the support of community partnerships and grants”.

Melanie and Marion will be working closely together over the next while to ensure a smooth transition. Both are committed to engaging staff and stakeholders during leadership change and sustaining service continuity every day.

Melanie was born and raised in Burlington and has been a Hamilton resident for twenty-three years.  With experience in the corporate, education and non-profit sectors her most recent role was as Executive Director at Ancaster Community Services, a local charitable and social services organization. Melanie is a proud owner of an adorable Brussels Griffon.

“I am thrilled to be joining the HBSPCA and to be a part of a community-minded team of staff, volunteers and Board Members. The support that the HBSPCA receives from donors is a testament to the incredible work that is done to support pets and their people and advance a humane community.”

The HBSPCA currently has an active staff of 22 and an annual operating budget of $2.3M. Its Companion Animal Hospital on site at 245 Dartnall Road served more than 6,000 animals last year.

For information contact Marion Emo. CEO. 905-574-7722 ext. 310.

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The Hamilton/Burlington SPCA is a donor based charitable and non-profit animal welfare organization. Our mission is keeping pets and people together, supporting pet families and leaving no animal at risk behind. Discover the miracles that happen everyday at www.hbspca.com

The Times of COVID are Changing and the Hamilton/Burlington SPCA is Getting Ready.

Hamilton, ON (Thursday May 14, 2020) – The Hamilton/Burlington SPCA is readying new ways of work as Ontario communities open up for services and business.

“The Premier stated today that businesses should open only if they are ready,” stresses Marion Emo, CEO. “and we are getting ready. The health of our Staff is a priority, as is the safety of the public we serve. We are confident too that our donors who have supported the animals generously these last two months expect no less of the charity they support”.

For the next while, the HBSPCA will remain closed to the public. Service to community continues as it has for several weeks given the HBSPCA has been a priority service. These services include  Receiving animals at risk identified by Provincial Inspectors and as asked.  Receiving animals requiring emergency care.  Receiving emergency surrenders and surrenders of animals otherwise at risk for neglect and abandonment.  Supporting pets and their families with end of life support to alleviate pain, distress, and discomfort at the end of life.  Offering compassionate boarding for pets belonging to persons who might be hospitalized for COVID-19 treatment and for whom there are no pet care alternatives.  Providing no contact adoptions for pet companions ready for their forever home.  Supporting our customers with telemedicine support and pet behavioural advice to keep people and pets together.

The HBSPCA has already started working on a post COVID-19 Emergency State recovery plan guided by distancing and other directives of local and Provincial public health authorities. The HBSPCA is ensuring a robust supply of personal protective equipment, re-assessing patient flow in the Companion Animal Hospital, and changing up staff and public flow pathways in the building. Protective barriers are being installed in the hospital and adoption center. Web cams will enable meaningful staff meetings without face-to-face gatherings for the time being. Classes, clinics and fundraisers will resume only when it is safe for the public to gather in numbers greater than 5 persons.

“There is no time like the present to make changes that may have been contemplated and are now demonstrated to work well.” M. Emo goes on to say. “For instance, no contact adoptions
P. (905) 574-7722 | W. www.hbspca.com | E. info@hbspca.com 245 Dartnall Road, Hamilton, Ontario L8W 3V9

will be a feature of our service going forward. They will not replace on site adoptions; however, the outcomes have been positive for both adopters and re-homed pets”.

“We are exceptionally grateful for the support of our donors especially since the advent of the COVID-19. Donors are supporting innovative service, new service, and the requisites for safe service, all to advance a humane community, at all times. And for this we sincerely thank them”.

To learn about access to programs, including spay/neuter surgery, our new online e-boutique, online dog obedience classes and no contact adoption, please message info@hbspca.com or visit our website at www.hbspca.com

Media Contact: Marion Emo, CEO. 905-574-7722 ext. 310

About the Hamilton/Burlington SPCA: The Hamilton/Burlington SPCA (HBSPCA) keeps people and pets together, helps pet owners be the pet parents they want to be and rehomes neglected and abandoned animals for second chance lives. Activities include, among others, education, pet visiting for people’s well-being, low cost spay neuter services, and pet companion health checks and surgeries for pets belonging to some of the most vulnerable citizens in our community and for whom their pet is their best or only friend. We invite you to check out the miracles that happen every day at www.hbspca.com Charitable Registration # 11923 6750 RR0001.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

No Pet Left Behind in the Times of COVID-19

Hamilton/Burlington SPCA and Zachary’s Paws for Healing open for Compassionate Boarding

Hamilton, ON (April 16, 2020) – The Hamilton/Burlington SPCA (HBSPCA) and Zachary’s PAWS for Healing (ZPFH) will care for pets belonging to persons hospitalized for treatment related to coronavirus.

There may be persons hospitalized for treatment who do not have alternatives for pet care while in hospital. “Pets are family members, and this approach prevents pet surrender, relieves anxiety about care, and gives hope to pet parents”, says Marion Emo, CEO. “Working together with Zachary’s PAWS for Healing, we know that pets are people’s best friends and sometimes only friend.  Offering compassionate boarding for persons experiencing the coronavirus is the right thing to do”.

The compassionate boarding program provides up to 14 days of boarding at the HBSPCA on Dartnall and with ZPFH depending on the space available and animals’ circumstances. Pets may include cats, dogs, small critters and small birds.

“We don’t know yet what the need will be for compassionate boarding”, says Donna Jenkins, Founder of ZPFH. “Caring for pets when pet parents fall ill is important. We’re ready as usual and can be counted on to help patients’ pets.”

As always, pet families are encouraged to make plans for pet care in the event of absence from home, with for instance friends, families or neighbours. Sometimes this is not possible. Referrals to the compassionate boarding program can be made by health care staff to Michelle Macnab at mmacnab@hbspca.com and Brian Judson at 289-682-3171.

“We are very grateful to our supporters for compassionate boarding”, Marion Emo goes on to say. “PetSmart Charities of Canada® has provided an emergency grant to help board pets in need who belong to clients of our Community Veterinary Outreach Program. And Royal Canin has donated food to help feed pet companions in care”.

Learn about the program and how you can prepare for compassionate boarding at /services/covid-19-emergency-preparedness/

Media Contact: Marion Emo, CEO at memo@hbspca.com or 905-574-7722 ext. 310.

About the Hamilton/Burlington SPCA

The Hamilton/Burlington Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (HBSPCA) is animal focused and donor based. The HBSPCA is committed to thriving animals, thriving pet families and thriving communities. With donor support and community partners, we are making progress keeping people and pets together, helping pet owners be the pet parents they want to be, and helping animals thrive in care on the way to their second chance homes. We invite you to check out the miracles that happen every day at www.hbspca.com
Charitable registration # 11923 6750 RR0001
The Community Veterinary Outreach Program is supported by a partnership with Community Veterinary Outreach www.vetoutreach.org

 

About Zachary’s PAWS for Healing

Zachary’s Paws for Healing is the only organization in Canada that provides specialized services to hospitals and their patients.  For the past five years, we have provided patients with visits with their own companion pets in hospital to relieve the stress and isolation they feel when separated.  We have fostered over 1600 patients’ pets that had no one to care for them while their human received much needed hospital care.  We also provide therapeutic animals for patients and staff at our Hamilton hospitals helping to rehabilitate patients and provide stress relief to the medical staff.  Through private donations and our corporate partners, we have provided this essential service to the Southern Ontario community.  For more information about our great work, please go to www.zacharyspawsforhealing.com
Charitable registration # 766701494RR0001