The dream of opening a Regional Centre for Pets and People has gained recent momentum for the Georgian Triangle Humane Society with the exciting announcement it has officially closed on a five-acre property sale located in south Collingwood.
“This is a defining moment in the Georgian Triangle Humane Society history,” says David Garner, chair, Board of Directors and Blue Mountains resident. “Our excellent staff and volunteers have been struggling to deliver the best care possible within a facility that we – and our community – outgrew several years ago. Now that our new land has closed, and with the amplified support of the communities we serve, Georgian Triangle Humane Society is poised for rapid expansion.”
The announcement culminates years of negotiations led by some of the organization’s veteran volunteers: John Worts, Deb Boyd and David Garner. Currently operating from a 3,500 sq ft facility, expansion plans include a 15,000 sq ft building on five acres of land, providing ample outdoor space for pet memorial gardens, dog enrichment parks and walking trails as part of the organization’s stated commitment to its community.
“Georgian Triangle Humane Society supports people as much as we support pets,” says Sonya Reichel, executive director. “Research has proven that people are happier and healthier with a pet. Recognizing this, we offer several programs that support people and the pets they care for, whether it be providing behaviour classes for puppies or supporting families during times of hardship where a pet may be involved.”
The Georgian Triangle Humane Society approaches animal care with the philosophy each pet is an important family member. Statistics tell us that 72% of pet owners feel that spending time with their pet helps reduce stress. In good times or in more challenging times, economic and social conditions impact.
‘We don’t want people to ever be in the position where they have to choose between feeding their family or their family pet, a scenario we’ve heard far too often over the past two years,” says Ms Reichel. “We also know women stay in unsafe relationships because they don’t want to leave their pet behind. And we understand that all families genuinely love their pets but there are some that simply can’t afford treatment for emergency medical care. That’s where we have the greatest positive impact. The Georgian Triangle Humane Society is working hard to be part of a family’s solution, adapting our services to meet the growing community demand.”
The Society announced that Derrick March from Ravenna and Kelly Glass of Thornbury will co-chair the upcoming capital campaign set to publicly launch in 2023. Plans for the campaign are underway thanks to the unwavering support of the Board Directors, more than 220 frontline active volunteers, community friends and ambassadors, and a staff and medical team of 23 professionals.
This vital community service serving the south Georgian Bay region is focused on improving community wellness, four paws at a time.
Expect to hear more about our new building campaign in the weeks and months ahead. For more details, please contact Karen Petcoff at karenp@gths.ca.
