Ontario Charity Celebrates its 10th Anniversary by Expanding to Help Ontario Works Recipients

TORONTO, Jan. 4, 2012 /CNW/ - With 10 years of steady growth and outstanding success under its "collar", the Farley Foundation announces a major expansion of its eligibility criteria to now assist Ontario Works recipients with the emergency veterinary care of the pets that mean the world to their families.

Effective immediately, the expansion to include Ontario Works recipients comes after a successful fundraising year in 2011, a year when so many other charities struggled to maintain the financial support of their donor base.

"Pet owners are incredibly empathetic towards the well-being of others' pets," says Dr. Mark Gemmill President of the Farley Foundation. "But we also provide a very important service to seniors, disabled individuals, women at risk of abuse and people who really struggle to make financial ends meet.

"During our 10^th year anniversary, the Farley Foundation will celebrate the role that pets play in our everyday lives," says Dr. Gemmill. 83 per cent of the pet owning population considers their pet to be part of the family. And for many individuals (and families) the health and wellbeing of their pet contributes enormously to the health and wellbeing of the entire family."

"We speak with pet owners on a regular basis who have difficulty paying for their own food, shelter and medication, some because they've lost their jobs, others because their medical conditions prevent them from working, some because they are on a very low, set income (or government subsidy). No matter what happens in their lives, these pet owners can rely on the companionship offered by their pet, they are motivated to get up and go in the morning because their pet needs to go for a walk, they have an excuse and common ground to get out and socialize with other pet owners, and they have something positive to keep their minds on."

To date, the Farley Foundation has disbursed over $1,200,000 to assist more than 3,100 people and pets in need.

Read stories from our funding recipients and learn more about the Farley Foundation at www.farleyfoundation.org

About Farley Foundation
The Farley Foundation assists people in need by subsidizing the cost of veterinary care for the pets that mean the world to them. Veterinarians will consider applications for seniors receiving GIS, disabled individuals receiving ODSP or CPP Disability, women at risk of abuse participating in the OVMA SafePet Program, seniors' care facilities owning a pet, and now recipients of the Ontario Works program. Established in 2001 by OVMA, the Foundation has distributed over $1,200,000 to assist over 3,100 pet owners and their pets. Pet owners looking for assistance should speak directly with a veterinarian. For full details visit www.farleyfoundation.org

For more information about the Farley Foundation or the above release, please contact:
Nadia Vercillo, Manager of Development & Public Relations
(for media use only) T. 416.231.1591 or [email protected]