It can be lonely and dangerous living on the streets. It comes as no surprise that some of the city’s homeless find comfort and companionship with a pet. A group of veterinarians and veterinary professionals host a free monthly clinic to provide medical care to pets whose owners might not be able to afford veterinary care.
Vets for Pets was founded six years ago by Dr. Jane Vermeulen, who maintains a private practice out of Hillside Veterinary Hospital. The program hosts a free monthly clinic on the second Thursday of each month (the next one is this week).
Although some people have pet reptiles, rodents and cats, the vast majority of pets seen at the clinic are dogs.
“Pets provide companionship and are nonjudgmental,” said Vermeulen.
When she first started, she saw eight animals. These days, as many as 72 pet owners will line up for hours with their pets in the courtyard of Our Place Society to receive free veterinary care.
As many as 30 veterinarians and veterinary professionals from Victoria and as far as Port Alberni and Campbell River take turns to staff the clinic.
Veterinary pharmaceutical companies, such as Zoetis and Merck, help by donating medicine — including vaccines and parasite-control medication — to the cause.
The organization often partners with the Victoria branch of the B.C. SPCA to provide pet accessories, and the Pet Food Bank of Our Place distributes pet food.
Other animal-focused non-profit groups also turn up with food, pet leashes and jackets during the winter. Local veterinary clinics often donate short-dated products.
Public donations of pet food, clothing and cash are always welcome — they can be dropped off throughout the month at Our Place.
The clinic runs 2 to 4 p.m. on the second Thursday of each month on a first-come, first-served basis. The primary goal is to provide vaccines, parasite control and wellness care.
They can not spay or neuter animals, as they work in the courtyard of Our Place, 919 Pandora Ave. For more information, go to Facebook or [email protected].
Artists turn old chairs into artworks
Last summer, 30 local artists, furniture refinishers and designers turned plain, old chairs into works of art as a fundraiser for the new downtown Habitat for Humanity ReStore.
People were invited to bid for a chair in the Take a Seat … for Habitat campaign, where artists up-cycled 30 identical plain wooden chairs that had been found gathering dust in the basement of the ReStore.
Richard Brooks was one of the successful bidders for a funky chair, which now sits in a place of honour in the family’s kitchen/ dining room. His successful bid was for a chair named The Cock and the Hen, by artist Jesika Edison.
“We were looking for funky, arty type of stuff,” said Brooks who began collecting local art two years ago. “For the $220 I paid for it, it was a steal.”
He bid on a few chairs, but was the highest bidder on only one.
“It got a lot of ‘wows’ from visitors this holiday season,” he said.
He said he would definitely take part in a future auction.
He could be in luck. Habitat for Humanity raised more than $2,600 from the event, and plans to repeat the event this fall. Proceeds from the sale went toward a building project at 4000 Cedar Hill Cross Rd.
The charity builds affordable housing with the help of volunteers and community partners on donated plots of land. Go to habitatvictoria.com.
Jingle Mingle raises $1.3 million
The B.C. Cancer Foundation raised a record-breaking $1.3 million at its ninth annual Jingle Mingle last month. It is Victoria’s largest annual fundraising event.
The funds will make it possible to launch made-in-Victoria immunotheraphy cancer treatment into clinical trials. It could mean life-saving new cancer treatments to patients in the years to come.
“I’ve been truly blown away by the generosity of our community and their resolute commitment to the B.C. Cancer Foundation,” said Lorne Campbell, the event’s honorary chair.
The evening, filled with jingling, mingling, bidding and fundraising by more than 350 guests, was held last month at the Empress Hotel and presented by ProLine Property Management.
Over the past nine years, the fundraiser has raised more than $4.7 million.
The B.C. Cancer Foundation is the fundraising partner of the B.C. Cancer Agency and the largest funder of cancer research in British Columbia.
For more information, go to bccancerfoundation.com.
Online auction will help Cool Aid
An online auction by the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority netted $1,200 for the Victoria Cool Aid Society last month.
The online auction replaced a silent auction that never took place due to cancellation of the Lighted Ship Parade. Proceeds from the auction benefit the Victoria Cool Aid Society’s REES program, providing Resources, Education, Employment and Support to those in our community with mental illness and addiction. All items in the auction had been donated by local businesses.
Greater Victoria Harbour Authority owns and operates deep water, marina and upland holdings throughout Victoria’s harbour, including the large-vessel Ogden Point port facility. For more information, go to gvha.ca.
ALS society chosen by 100+ Women
The ALS Society of B.C. was the charity chosen to receive $27,200 by 100+ Women Who Care Victoria last month.
The new charity works like this: The group meets for one hour four times a year, with each member contributing $100 to the pot. The assembled group comes up with several charities that could receive the money. The charity that garners the majority of votes gets the collected total.
In the past 15 months, the group has raised and distributed more than $150,000 to local charities. For more information, go to 100womenvictoria.com.
Shelter residents get blankets from Urban Barn
Residents of 30 shelters across Canada benefited from an infusion of 13,000 new blankets, thanks to a campaign by a national home-furnishing chain. In Victoria, blankets were distributed to the Victoria Cool Aid Society.
This is the fourth year Urban Barn, which has 50 locations in Canada, including one in Victoria, has promoted its Blanket the Country in Warmth campaign over the holiday season.
Between November and December, the chain donated a new fleece blanket to a local shelter for every $5 donation by retail customers.
“Blanket the Country in Warmth is an important initiative for us at Urban Barn,” said Christian Villemaire, a store manager. “Besides providing a warm fleece blanket for someone in need, we are working to raise awareness for a very important local issue. We are proud to give back to our community, give warmth and most of all, give hope.”
The Vancouver-based retailer, founded in 1990, offers furniture, home décor and accessories. The Victoria Cool Aid Society helps more than 10,000 people in need every year through supported housing, community health, dental services, emergency shelter, mental health and employment services. For more information, go to coolaid.org or urbanbarn.com.
Young people learn ‘52 virtues’
A program teaching youth about 52 virtues fundamental to living harmoniously received funding from the Telus Victoria Community Board.
Pacifica Housing received more than $8,600 toward its Virtues Youth Group, a free, weekly drop-in program based on the internationally renowned Virtues Program.
The program is attended by 75 children aged 4 to 12 living in five of Pacifica’s family housing complexes in Greater Victoria.
Each year, 52 virtues are introduced, with youth encouraged to explore and learn about them in group sessions, educational workshops, cooking sessions, creative play, arts and crafts, physical and sport activity, celebration of holidays and events, and trips into the community.
Desired outcomes of the program include improved mental health, a strengthened sense of belonging, excitement for healthy eating and learning values such as co-operation, respect and honesty.
The community gains responsible, confident and compassionate youth who are engaged in and care about their social and natural environments.
Pacifica Housing is a provider of affordable housing and support services for more than 1,500 people in 32 buildings totalling 842 units.
Go to virtuesproject.com or pacificahousing.ca.
Chip In turns Christmas trees into dollars
It has been another successful annual year for Chip In for the Kids, with more than $14,000 raised last weekend.
The fundraiser sees residents from all around Greater Victoria, Sooke and Duncan showing up to have their Christmas trees chipped and recycled to benefit programs by the B.C. Lions Society for Children with Disabilities.
Volunteers from local Lion and Lioness clubs were on hand to help out.
“It was wonderful to see the community give so much to an amazing cause; their generous support makes a difference in the lives of children and families who rely on Easter Seals services and programs right here on Vancouver Island,” said Shannon Bernays, director of special events for the society on Vancouver Island.
All money raised at Chip In for the Kids goes to support Easter Seals programs and services on Vancouver Island, such as Camp Shawnigan. Every year, 300 children with disabilities are able to enjoy themselves at the camp, thanks in part to events like Chip In for the Kids. For more information, go to eastersealsbc.ca.
