Talkin' Shop

We spoke with Executive Director, Shawn Morey, about what’s been going on at the PHS.

What is something you are really proud of as an organization? We’re proud of our ability to promote & uphold the value of the human-animal bond by connecting animals in need of a second chance with individuals & families throughout the community. At the end of the day, we are here for the animals and it’s our mission to advocate for those without a voice.

What is something that makes your shelter unique? As the only open admission-for-life facility in our region, we apply a business focus to our operations to continually elevate & advance animal wellness throughout Peterborough & the Kawarthas.

What is a program that you run that is really important for people to know about? For over 20 years, we’ve offered what we call our SNooPy (Safe Nights for Pets) program. This program helps keep families and pets together by offering pets a temporary safe haven when their owners are faced with hospitalization, domestic abuse or temporary displacement. We currently help around 70 animals per year through SNooPy, ensuring that local families and their pets stay together despite the challenges life might throw their way.

Can you share a story of a specific pet you helped recently? On March 20, 2023 our Animal Control officer picked up a puppy who was called in as a stray. When he arrived at PHS our team knew right away that Jimothy was extremely ill, lethargic and very thin. He was rushed to an emergency vet and there he tested positive for canine parvovirus (CPV). CPV is a highly contagious viral disease of dogs that commonly causes acute gastrointestinal illness in puppies. A potentially fatal diagnosis, we got him all the necessary veterinary care he required and did all we could to help him recover.

Thanks to the donations from our supporters and amazing vet care, Jimothy was able to make a full recovery. Jimothy even found his furever family – including a big (human) brother! Now he spends his days playing and growing with his family. Stories like his are a true testament to the work we do here at PHS.

How many donors do you have? We have 145 monthly donors and around 100 major gift donors. We’ve also seen an increase in new online donors during the past few months, which is amazing.

To what extent are pet license fees contributing to your overall budget? 10%.

What is something you are raising funds for? We are focused on bridging the gap on our capital campaign goal. We need just over $3 million to reach our goal of $13 million. The Peterborough Animal Care Centre, is truly the community’s Centre, bringing 3 extremely valuable services to one space.

• The Peterborough Humane Society’s Shelter, Adoption and Education Centre
• A Publicly Accessible, High-Volume Spay & Neuter Clinic to provide spay and neuter services to prevent pet overpopulation
• Canada’s first Dog Rehabilitation Centre created in partnership with the Ontario SPCA and Humane Society

We are now open at 1999 Technology Drive, Peterborough. However, we still need the community’s support to reach our goal!

For more information about the Peterborough Humane Society and licensing bylaws, visit https://peterboroughhumanesociety.ca/