The Georgian Triangle Humane Society Breaks Ground on the David & Helen Capin Regional Centre for Pets & People
On Thursday, September 18th, donors, volunteers, and staff celebrated an enormous milestone in our journey to building the David and Helen Capin Regional Centre for Pets and People (RCPP) dedicated to the well-being of pets and people in our community. Located at 135 Sandford Fleming Drive in Collingwood, this new facility will enable the GTHS to increase our capacity to care for more pets in need and provide more families with affordable animal services and compassionate care (see sidebar).
Expanding Accessible and Compassionate Care for Pets and Families
We have long outgrown our facility, far surpassing the number of pets for which it was designed. Year over year, the number of pets surrendered has increased, as have requests for Access to Care programs such as Pet Pantry and Emergency Medical Assistance Services (EMAS). The need for accessible veterinary care has never been greater, and the GTHS is uniquely situated to serve a large portion of Central and Southern Ontario, reaching far beyond Collingwood.
The Impact of The David & Helen Capin Regional Centre for Pets and People:
- Shelter over 5,500 animals annually
- Provide more than 6,700 spay/neuter surgeries each year
- Foster hope during crisis for more than 2,200 pet families in, offering resources in the most critical time
- Engage more than 6,000 youth annually through compassionate, hands-on learning in Humane Education programs
- Welcome 30,000 visitors, connecting pets with loving homes
- Support 600 volunteers and 50 staff, providing exceptional care to every pet
- This project is designed by Unity Design Studio Inc., engineered by Tatham Engineering and built by Bertram Construction
While the GTHS continues to provide quality care with the facilities we have, we know that there is a limit to how many pets we can serve. Already this year, our dog kennels have reached full capacity twice, resulting in urgent pleas for foster volunteers and potential adopters. The RCPP is designed to meet these needs, supporting not only our pets, but also our community’s well-being. By offering low-cost spay/neuter services, rabies and microchip clinics, and other supportive veterinary services, pet families are receiving affordable care for their beloved pets, and the health of our community is supported through vaccinations and population control.
Celebrating a Fundraising Milestone Together
As we celebrate the start of construction, we are also celebrating a significant milestone in fundraising for this capital project: reaching $10.6 million of our $17.6 million goal. This has been no small feat, having garnered donor and municipal support for the RCPP over the past five years. As we begin our journey to our new home, these funds become more important than ever, creating a space that will improve the lives of pets and the people who love them, benefitting our community and strengthening the human-animal bond.
How You Can Support the Future of the RCPP
Are you wondering how you can be part of this innovative project and help us build our new home? Community donations are the foundation of the GTHS and our future home of the David and Helen Capin Regional Centre for Pets and People, enabling us to offer compassionate care to pets and people. There are many ways to give: from donations to naming opportunities to legacy giving.
Learn more and donate at supportgths.ca.
Special thank you to Michael Gray Photography and Dave West Photography for capturing this incredible day!
