Georgian Triangle Humane Society under utilized in Clearview
Trina Berlo photo: Lucky, gets some love and attention from Creemore resident June Reed who is a regular volunteer at the shelter.
The Georgian Triangle Humane Society (GTHS) wants Clearview residents to know it is there to help.
The organization, located in Collingwood, takes in homeless dogs and cats within the Georgian Triangle. Although it has no formal boundaries, its catchment area includes Wasaga Beach, Collingwood, Blue Mountains, Meaford and Clearview Township.
Of the municipalities served by GTHS, Clearview ranks lowest in terms of intakes for both dogs and cats.
Of all animals taken in by the GTHS, three per cent of cats and two percent of dogs are from Clearview.
Manager of marketing, communications and resource development Calla Lyon said the GTHS is trying to spread the message throughout Clearview that it is their shelter. It does have a limit of how many animals it can take in so people are encouraged to call ahead to make arrangements for drop offs and the shelter is always looking for good homes for its animals.
The average stay for dogs is 11 days and 30 cats for cats.
The shelter has about 25 kittens in-house and there is a special adoption rate of $75 until the end of August.
The facility is affiliated with the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty (OSPCA) but it is governed by an independent board of directors and is self funded.
It has more than 300 volunteers who do everything from care for the animals to help pay for operations.
Proceeds from the volunteer run Treasure Tails second hand store in Collingwood account for one-third of the shelter’s income, said Lyon. The store is located at 186 Hurontario Street.
Its two biggest annual fundraisers are the Friends Walk for Life Walkathon and National Cup Cake Day, when people sell baked goods on behalf of the organization.
Friends for Life Walkathon takes place in Collingwood on Sept. 19 and National Cup Cake Day is in February.
The GTHS accepts donations of all kinds, from supplies (small blankets, towels, litter and wet cat food) to money and goods for the store. Volunteers are needed, especially to walk dogs and visit with the cats.
For more information and details on programming, making donations and adoption feed, visit gths.ca.
