NEWS RELEASE

Feb. 13, 2014

For Immediate Release

VICTORIA HUMANE SOCIETY LAUNCHES

Victoria – The new Victoria Humane Society is officially launched today, with the unveiling of its logo and the launch of a new website.

Executive Director Penny Stone also announced a potential new shelter site for the Victoria Humane Society’s facility, and the beginning of an intensive $1 million fundraising campaign.

“The Victoria Humane Society brings a dynamic and fresh new approach to animal rescue in B.C.,” Stone said. “Our new organization brings together a compassionate, experienced team to provide a safe haven and new hope for the future for sick, abandoned, injured or homeless animals.”

An offer has been accepted on a 4.5 acre kennel-zoned site on Gillespie Road in East Sooke, Stone said, and the organization has just over 100 days to raise the purchase funds for the property and finalize the deal.

“We know support and excitement for this new organization is out there in the community,” she said, adding that many businesses and individuals have stepped forward already to donate and offer their help. “Now we need to pull it all together, with the help of everyone.”

A crowd-funding campaign launches today for the Victoria Humane Society’s campaign on YouCaring.com, an online fundraising site. As well, people can donate through the Society’s Facebook page or through its newly launched website, www.victoriahumanesociety.com .

And Trapeze Communications Inc., a powerful creative force and one of Victoria’s most respected advertising agencies, has come on board as a supporter and will be rolling out a Victoria Humane Society campaign soon.

The $1 million raised will be used to purchase shelter property, to assist with essential site improvements and for animal rescue operations going forward. Future funding for services and programs will come from donations, bequests, trusts, grants and fees.

Stone emphasized that the new organization will complement the work already underway by other groups in B.C. animal rescue, and will focus on areas where unique needs exist.

“One of the goals of the Victoria Humane Society will be to continue assisting in remote and rural communities, where we have earned trust and are allowed in to rescue stray and abandoned dogs. There’s a real need for that which isn’t currently being fully addressed,” Stone said. “As well, unfortunately other organizations have seen reductions in their ability to assist low-income families or individuals with spay-and-neuter of their pets. We’re making that a real focus also, to fill that gap.

“Once our new shelter facility is up and running, we envision having an on-site spay and neuter clinic. This clinic would provide part-time professional veterinary services to our animals prior to being adopted out, and will also assist with spay and neuter services for pets in low-income families.”

Stone encouraged businesses, organizations and members of the public to consider supporting the new organization with one-time donations or ongoing fundraising initiatives.

The Victoria Humane Society’s work will carry on during their fundraising campaign, using the more than 50 foster homes in their existing network. In its first three months of operation from mid-November 2013, more than 100 dogs, puppies, cats and kittens were rescued. In these first three months, the Society provided more than $33,000 in medical attention including spaying and neutering. Almost 85 per cent of these animals have been adopted out, and the remainder are in caring foster homes.

The Victoria Humane Society is a community-based, registered charity focused on better lives for animals. Because of its charitable status, official tax receipts will be issued for donations.

www.victoriahumanesociety.com

Media contact:

Marg LeGuilloux

Volunteer Communications Coordinator

Cell: 250.888.8878

Email: [email protected]