The Humane Society of Kitchener Waterloo & Stratford Perth (HSKWSP) has officially launched its Better Together Capital Campaign, marking a significant step forward in the organization's mission to enhance animal welfare in the region.
The $6 million campaign, which kicked off on Wednesday, August 28, 2024 with a ground-breaking ceremony, is aimed at expanding and upgrading the society's facilities to better serve the growing needs of the community.
This initiative has garnered strong support from local municipalities, with the City of Kitchener pledging $300,000 and the City of Waterloo contributing $200,000.
Victoria Baby, CEO of HSKWSP, highlighted the importance of the campaign, noting that the demand for the organization's services has been rapidly increasing, surpassing current capacity.
“The Better Together Capital Campaign marks a pivotal step in the evolution of the HSKWSP as it continues to lead the charge in animal welfare in the region. The demand for our services is escalating rapidly, outpacing our current capacity. This campaign represents the future of the HSKWSP as the organization adapts to the increasing demand for its services.”
Kitchener Mayor Berry Vrbanovic expressed the city's long-standing partnership with HSKWSP and its commitment to supporting the organization's expansion.
"The City of Kitchener has had a long-standing partnership with the Humane Society of Kitchener Waterloo and Stratford Perth. We truly value their work and are pleased to continue to build on our partnership and provide funding for their expansion as a part of their Better Together Capital Campaign. As you know, pets are very much a part of many families and hold a very special place in many of our hearts, and so we want to ensure that both pets and their owners are receiving the care and supports they require. Funds raised through the Better Together Capital Campaign will allow the HSKWSP to expand their facilities; enabling them to better meet the needs of our growing communities, ensure homeless and owned pets are both able to find their forever homes and implement new programs to expand care within the community."
The campaign comes at a time when HSKWSP is experiencing significant growth in its programs, services, volunteers, and staff. This expansion has created an urgent need for larger and more specialized facilities. The project includes enhancements to the animal hospital to meet rising demands, the creation of a new community education space to expand educational initiatives, and the establishment of a dedicated Pet Pantry to ensure reliable food support for pets in need. Additionally, a new mobile outreach unit will be introduced to deliver care to underserved populations, and new office spaces and a garage will be built to accommodate the growing demand for services.
The society is calling on the public to join in making this vision a reality by contributing to the campaign at kwsphumane.ca/better-together.