Furry friends need our help this Christmas.
This December, sixteen clinics across Manitoba will come together for another year of the Manitoba Veterinary Medical Association’s (MVMA) “Season FUR Everyone” campaign, including Stonewall Veterinary Clinic and Equi-Tech Veterinary.
The annual campaign empowers clinics to decide where their contributions are most needed so specific needs are met within the clinic’s communities. Donations of pet food, supplies and monetary donations are collected and then distributed by the participating clinics to local families, shelters, rescues, and food banks.
This year, throughout December, clinics across Manitoba have chosen to support 15 organizations, an effort by veterinary clinics across the province to support pets and families in need during the holiday season.
This reflects the diversity of needs and incredible work being done by groups dedicated to animal welfare, said Michelle Kusano, Communications and Event Coordinator at the MVMA.
Equi-Tech Veterinary (north east of Stonewall) will accept donations for Before the Bridge Senior K9 Rescue from Dec. 4 to 29. Donations will be accepted Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. For more information contact 204-467-2083.
The shelter has a special place in the clinic’s heart, as they have been providing vet care to the rescue animals since 2016.
“The dogs that are in this rescue come to the rescue needing lots of medical, dental, and surgical care, and the rescue goes above and beyond to make sure that that care is done before they are adopted out to their new family. So, we’ve done our best throughout the years to support the rescue because we believe in their work,” said Dr. Valerie Millette from Equi-Tech Veterinary.
It’s a way we can give back to the community and support the rescue, she said.
Founder and executive director of the rescue, Judy Smith, is touched by the support she continues to receive from community partners, like Equi-Tech Veterinary, who have been supporting her rescue through this initiative for the last two years.
“Everything we receive we are very grateful for, and we use it all… It’s a huge help to receive these gifts for our little sick dogs,” she said.
Stonewall Veterinary Clinic has participated in the annual campaign for five-plus years, collecting food, pet supplies, and monetary donations.
The clinic has supported D’Arcys ARC (Animal Rescue Centre) for the last two years. Previously, they supported Tin for the Critter Bin, a drive held annually in memory of Ethan Boyer, a 19-year-old from Balmoral who died in a vehicle accident in 2019.
The Stonewall Veterinary Clinic has been collecting donations on behalf of D’Arcys ARC since Dec. 1 and will continue to collect until close at 6 p.m. on Dec. 22. Donations can be dropped off anytime during regular business hours Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday’s from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information contact 204-467-2481.
Kim Shaw, the manager at the clinic, said they work closely with a veterinarian at the rescue.
The clinic also sends a number of feral cats to D’Arcys ARC when they don’t have the means to care for them at the clinic.
“If they’re willing to take them, then they do,” said Shaw.
The founder of D’Arcys ARC, D’Arcy Johnston, has been running the animal rescue center for twenty-three years.
Johnston said they typically take in 50 to 60 adoptions a month and house 150 cats and dogs regularly, and there’s no end in sight to that.
D’Arcys ARC is a registered charity that does not receive government or city funding to run its facility, so any donations, big or small, go a long way and are greatly appreciated.
“The cost of living has gotten so high this year, and it’s just making it more difficult to make ends meet, so we really do appreciate all these extra donations of everything – it’s a huge bonus for us,” said Johnston.
As many of us know, the holiday season can increase stress and financial strain, but it can be particularly challenging for families with pets. Unfortunately, tight finances can affect the lives of our furry friends.
Kusano said the initiative aims to alleviate these additional challenges and ensure pets receive the care and nutrition they need and deserve.
Through financial hardships during the holiday season, an initiative like this could be the one thing standing between families having to surrender their beloved pets and keeping them past the tough season. It also helps avoid adding additional strain to the already struggling rescues in Manitoba.
“We believe that every contribution, no matter its size, plays a vital part in making a positive difference in the lives of pets and their families during the winter season,” said Kusano.
“We see ‘Season FUR Everyone’ not just as a campaign to collect donations but as a movement that fosters a sense of community and raises awareness about animal welfare,” she said.
After hearing from the founders of D’Arcy’s ARC and Before the Bridge Senor K9 Rescue, just two out of the fifteen shelters supported through this year’s initiative, it’s evident that these donations make a significant impact.
Not only are they making a difference one donation at a time to keep the welfare of the animals in the community healthy and happy this winter, but it’s also supporting the shelters that care for the welfare of animals in the community, keeping them going.
For more information about the “Season FUR Everyone” campaign, including a list of participating clinics across Manitoba, please visit https://www.mvma.ca/season-fur-everyone-2023?
Let’s give back to our furry friends this Christmas and ensure every animal has the necessities to thrive.
