Dinner’s On Us, Eh! 25,000 Meals (And More) On Its Way To Rural Cana

Spring may be on the way in most parts of North America, but in Northern Canada, it’s still very much winter. And it’s during this time that supplies are running low and many dogs in that area need care and assistance.

That’s why a team of dedicated volunteers, including veterinarians, from the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW)’s Northern Dogs Project, is headed up to rural Canadian communities this month armed with food and supplies to help dogs in need.

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The IFAW works to improve the welfare of animals throughout the world through awareness and education. The Northern Dogs project focuses on assisting under-served communities in remote Canada care for their animals.

On Thursday, April 9, the Northern Dogs team picked up a large donation of premium dog food at a Toronto-area PetSmart, courtesy of Halo, Purely for Pets and Freekibble.com, a website dedicated to helping pets in need. The 25,000 meals will be transported to a storage facility 16 hours north of Toronto and then delivered on transports headed into these remote communities.

Jan Hannah, IFAW’s Northern Dogs Project Manager, says the food could not have come at a better time. “It’s still winter in a lot of the communities where IFAW works. In such cold, dogs need a lot of energy to keep themselves warm and this donation will go a long way to helping them do that.”

The Northern Dogs team delivers food, supplies, dog houses, vet care, spay and neuter surgeries and education on proper dog care to residents in these communities. For the dogs who can’t remain in the communities, the Northern Dogs team works with rescue partners to find each dog a loving home.

The donation delivered in Toronto won’t just benefit dogs, though. The Toronto Animal Services also received 50,000 meals for the Toronto Feral Cat Coalition, which cares for stray and abandoned felines in the Toronto metro area. With spring – and kitten season – arriving, the high quality food will be especially beneficial for nursing mothers and young cats.

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Freekibble.com, a website started in 2008 by an 11-year-old girl, is where animal lovers can go each day to answer a pet-related trivia question. For each answer, right or wrong, Freekibble.com donates 10 pieces of kibble to animals in need. Halo is the official kibble sponsor. The site receives more than 20,000 visits from Canada each month. Thanks to this partnership with PetSmart Canada, Freekibble.com is now able to benefit Canadian pets in need.

Way to take off – for an awesome cause – to the Great White North, eh! Our toques are off to you!