International Fund for Animal Welfare Receives Grant Of Nearly $29,000 From PetSmart Charities® of Canada To Fuel Spay/Neuter Efforts In Remote North

BURLINGTON, Ontario and WASHINGTON, Feb. 11, 2019 /CNW/ -- The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) has received a grant in the amount of $28,980 from PetSmart Charities of Canada to help fuel its spay and neuter efforts in Indigenous communities in Northern Canada. With the help of this new donation and as part of its Northern Dogs Project, IFAW plans to provide vet services, including spay/neuter surgeries, education and support to local communities this spring.

In Canada's First Nations communities of Quebec near James Bay, a population of approximately 8,000 residents face extremely harsh winters and stark food resources, often creating an untenable situation for the local dog population. Since its inception in 2001, IFAW's Northern Dogs Project has assisted Canada's First Nations communities to build and maintain humane and sustainable animal care and management programs that help to improve the health, safety and welfare of both dogs and people in local communities.

A fundamental component of the Northern Dogs Project is the utilization of temporary in-community veterinary clinics. These clinics are often described as 'mobile army surgical hospitals' or MASH style.  By offering spay/neuter services as well as vaccinations and routine veterinary care, IFAW and the communities strive for stable, healthy dog populations that can then be more easily managed. The enriched health of the canine population resulting from these mobile clinics coupled with a more controlled population, has served to improve the relationship between dogs and their guardians.

IFAW uses the mobile clinics as a foundational tool to engage with communities on a deeper level about dog care and management. Working alongside local community leaders, the specific needs of each community are collaboratively identified and acted upon. This partnership ensures that solutions are not only effective, but culturally sensitive and applicable as well.

According to Janice Hannah, Campaigns Manager for IFAW, "We are delighted that PetSmart Charities of Canada has recognized the work being conducted by IFAW as part of our Northern Dogs Project. Our project has allowed us to make a positive impact on the welfare of an estimated 10,000 animals since 2001, and we look forward to continuing our close collaboration with the local communities."

"With projects underway in more than 40 countries around the world, The International Fund for Animal Welfare is globally recognized as a leader in serving and protecting animals and advocating on their behalf. PetSmart Charities of Canada is pleased to provide funding to support the Northern Dogs Project that will have a positive impact on the lives of people and animals in Indigenous communities across Canada," says Dani LaGiglia, regional relationship manager at PetSmart Charities of Canada.

IFAW staff will engage community members directly, going door-to-door to inform dog owners prior to the implementation of each clinic. This outreach effort will also be undertaken in conjunction with local radio announcements and information posted on social media.

About IFAW
Founded in 1969, the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) is a global non-profit organization that protects animals and the places they call home. With offices in 15 countries and projects in over 40, we rescue, rehabilitate and release animals into secure landscapes around the world. In collaboration with both governments and local communities, our experienced campaigners, legal and political experts, and internationally acclaimed scientists pioneer lasting solutions to some of the most pressing animal welfare and wildlife conservation issues of our time.

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 25,000 shelter pets each year. PetSmart Charities of Canada also provides grant funding to registered Canadian charities aligned with its mission under four key areas of support: Preventing Pet Homelessness; Helping Shelter Pets Thrive; Supporting the Bond Between People and Pets and Providing Emergency Relief and Disaster Support. 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 $14 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

Find PetSmart Charities on Facebook: www.Facebook.com/PetSmartCanada.

SOURCE International Fund for Animal Welfare

Rodger Correa, [email protected]; 24-Hour PetSmart Charities, Media Line: 623-587-2177