One of the most common reasons pets are surrendered to local shelters is the lack of affordable pet wellness, training, and education programs. Due to cost and other barriers, pet owners in under-resourced communities often do not have access to basic veterinary care such as spay/neuter services, vaccinations, dental care, and other medical and preventative care.
With a $5,000 grant from PetSmart Charities of Canada, the Surrey Community Cat Foundation (SurreyCats) aims to support pet parents in need by providing spay/neuter surgery, free of charge, for their cats. The funding will help cover veterinary costs associated with approximately 100 spay/neuter procedures.
“Our program improves access to vet care for pet guardians who can’t afford this important surgery,” says Lubna Ekramoddoullah, Program Manager at SurreyCats. “There are hundreds of stray cats and kittens in Surrey who once had homes, but because they weren’t spayed or neutered, they’re now constantly breeding. This funding enables us to address this challenge by helping families spay/neuter their cats, which will ultimately reduce the number of homeless cats in our community.”
This funding enables us to address this challenge by helping families spay/neuter their cats, which will ultimately reduce the number of homeless cats in our community.
In 2020, SurreyCats helped 250 families in spay and neuter 330 cats. The spay/neuter program is open to residents of Surrey, and cats must be at least four months old. Eligible cat owners can apply for the program at surreycats.ca or call 778-859-8552 to fill out an application form by phone.
“We are thrilled to support this work that will not only provide crucial care for cats, but also removes the financial barrier from pet guardians—allowing them to remain with beloved pets,” says Dani LaGiglia, Regional Relationship Manager at PetSmart Charities of Canada. “Through our partnership, it is our hope this work promotes a healthier pet population while reducing the strain on community resources.”
The spay/neuter program is open to residents of Surrey, and cats must be at least four months old.
Since 1999, through its partnership with more than 220 humane societies, SPCAs and pet rescues across Canada, PetSmart Charities of Canada has helped more than 330,000 pets to find loving homes via its in-store adoption program in over 140 PetSmart® stores. The leading funder of animal welfare has also donated more than $21 million to positively impact communities, to connect people and pets, to help preserve families and to improve access to veterinary care through initiatives like this with the Surrey Community Cat Foundation.
About the Surrey Community Cat Foundation
The Surrey Community Cat Foundation (SurreyCats) is a volunteer-run, registered Canadian charity with the mission to promote the welfare of cats through rescue, spay/neuter, and public education. SurreyCats humanely traps stray, abandoned, and feral cats, spays and neuters homeless cats and cats in low income households, provides medical treatment and food for cats in need, and educates the public on responsible pet ownership. To learn more, visit surreycats.ca.
Follow SurreyCats on Instagram: @SurreyCatsBC
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Find SurreyCats on Facebook: facebook.com/SurreyCats
About PetSmart Charities® of Canada
PetSmart® Charities of Canada is committed to finding lifelong, loving homes for all pets by supporting programs and thought leadership that bring people and pets together. Each year, more than 500,000 generous PetSmart shoppers help pets in need by donating to PetSmart Charities of Canada using the PIN pads at checkout registers inside PetSmart stores. In turn, PetSmart Charities of Canada efficiently uses more than 90 cents of every dollar donated to fulfill its role as a leading funder of animal welfare in Canada, granting more than $21.7 million since its inception in 1999. PetSmart Charities of Canada is a registered Canadian charity, a member of Imagine Canada and is independent from the PetSmart business in Canada. To learn more, visit petsmartcharities.ca.
Follow PetSmart Charities on Instagram: @PetSmartCharities
Follow PetSmart Charities on Twitter: @PetSmartChariTs
Find PetSmart Charities on Facebook: facebook.com/PetSmartCanada
See PetSmart Charities on YouTube: youtube.com/PetSmartCharitiesInc
Media Contacts
Surrey Community Cat Foundation
surreycats@shaw.ca
PetSmart Charities 24-Hour Media Line
623-587-2177