Critter Chatter

Print

E-mail

Text

Dear Critter Chatter,

This Christmas, I have decided to make a donation to an animal charity. There are many animal charities to choose from and certainly too many to list, but perhaps other readers would consider helping animals if you provided some information on a few.

Reader

Dear Reader,

There are indeed many ways to help the animals via a donation this holiday season.

I have researched a number of animal organizations and talked to some of my colleagues and have the following to offer for consideration. However, readers can do their own search and find an animal charity that meets their criteria, interest and passion.

Thank you for suggesting this topic and a Merry Christmas to you and all Critter Chatter readers and their furry and feathered friends.

* World Society for the Protection of Animals is an animal welfare charity that works internationally and locally to end cruelty to animals through field work, campaigning and education. The organization represents more than 802 member societies in more than 147 countries. Visit www.wspa.ca for details.

* The Fauna Foundation, located in Quebec, has an adopt-a-chimp program that cares for and houses former biomedical research chimpanzees. The chimps that call the sanctuary home have been given the chance to live and relax in peace. No longer confined to tiny cages or subjected to experiments, the chimps now delight in the simple pleasures of life: sunshine and fresh air on their faces, room to play and rest, plenty of special treats to eat and new things to discover. Visit www.adopt-a-chimp.com for details.

* Cedar Row Sanctuary is one of the few Ontario sanctuaries that takes in abused and neglected farm animals. Cedar Row is under the umbrella of Animal Outreach, which is a grassroots charitable organization. More than a decade ago, the farm animal shelter movement was still in its infancy and the concept of farm animal rescue was new to most people. Visit www.animaloutreach.ca/farm.htm for details.

* The Animal Rescue Site offers a way to help save Monarch butterflies, the opportunity to help vaccinate and feed shelter dogs and cats and also has a large online store with jewelry, clothing, figurines and stocking stuffers. Visit www.animalrescuesite.com for details.

* The Toronto Wildlife Centre in North York has a Christmas sponsorship program that helps our urban wild friends. People can choose to help a chipmunk, a cottontail rabbit or even a great horned owl. They also have an acknowledgement gifting program if you wish to send a donation in honour of a relative, friend or client. Visit www.torontowildlifecentre.com.

* Toronto Cat Rescue is an all-volunteer private organization that helps abandoned, lost and feral cats. They require donations of every kind from cat food and other cat supplies to the cash needed to pay veterinary bills. All donations go directly to the care of rescued cats. Visit www.torontocatrescue.ca for details.

* The Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty for animals has a network of 25 Ontario SPCA branches and 31 affiliated member humane societies. As a non-profit charitable organization, the Ontario SPCA is unique amongst animal welfare organizations in Ontario: the Ontario SPCA Act mandates the society to enforce animal cruelty laws and provides society branch and affiliated humane society investigators with police powers to do so. Visit www.ontariospca.ca.

* Toronto Animal Services operates four shelters in our city and cares for thousands of stray and abandoned animals each year. Their Christmas wish list includes dog and cat treats, small animal toys for rabbits, guinea pigs, rats and hamsters, bird toys, perches and food, clay cat litter, brushes, combs and nail trimmers, dog and cat toys, towels and blankets, hot water bottles and special veterinary food. Canadian Tire and 'real' money are also welcomed. Visit www.toronto.ca/animal_services or call 416-338-7297.