Community Pet Safe Home for Cherished Friends

Overview:

Community Animal Allies of Niagara (CAAN) is a registered Charity, established in 2007. We promote the no kill philosophy for displaced domestic animals and pets owned by persons of low income. The Niagara Region consists of twelve municipalities with a total population of 427,000. There are an estimated 20,000 pets at risk due to living in over 41,000 low income households.

THE STORY Tracey sobbed as she hung up the phone. She was sick and had to return to hospital and there was nobody to take care of Daisy Mae. Being on a government disability pension Tracey could not afford boarding and the only thing left was to give up Daisy to the local pound. Due to her age there was a strong probability that Daisy would be euthanized.

Dalina is mentally challenged and legally blind. The only consistent and comforting element in her life for 10 years has been a tiny 4lb dog named Penny. Penny barks a lot and often gets infested with fleas. Dalina is homeless and frequently forced to change address, spending months at a time in shelters which will not accept Penny. Dalina cries every night she goes to bed without her faithful and only friend at her side.

Carol is 55 years old. Recently her grandmother , mother and husband have all died. Carol has been left homeless. She lied on an application to rent a room by saying she had no pets. When the landlord discovered two cats in the room , Carol was to be evicted. Carol had owned Panda and Rocky for ten years. Her only choice was to send them to the local shelter where seven of ten cats admitted will be killed.

Annie, an aged miniature poodle was found wandering the streets alone. Her teeth were rotted and mouth stinking with infection. Her fur matted, infested with fleas and skin covered with sores. The local pound would have ended her life because of her age and need for extensive and costly dental care.

When CAAN found out about Tracey and Daisy, we were able to provide a home for Daisy during Tracey's hospital visits. Tracey can stop worrying about Daisy, knowing that she has other guardians that will make sure she is well taken care of. Penny has been a frequent and recurrent visitor to CAAN for two years. She never forgets Dalina and is always ecstatic to see her again when she returns to her care. Panda and Rocky have spent six weeks with us and will be going home next week when Carol moves into her new apartment which will accept cats. Carol will still miss her family members but at least she can share her pain with her beloved cats. Annie received veterinary care and brought endless joy to the people who had the privilege of being her guardians for four years before she died with dignity and surrounded by love.

THE PROBLEM People like Tracey, Dalina and Carol feel frightened , distraught and powerless because, due to medical and/or financial reasons, they are unable to continue to care for their cherished friends. They have no choice but to have their pet euthanized at the vet, or to abandon them a the local pound, almost certainly sentencing their faithful companions to loneliness and confusion prior to an undignified death. Precious little souls like Annie just need a helping hand to continue life but are often difficult to adopt due to age, medical or behavior issues. These scenarios are repeated frequently in our community.

Most people asking for help are turned away because we cannot find foster homes for their animals. It is one of the saddest things to share the experience of having to kill a beloved pet and best friend because there is not enough money to buy help. These impoverished people accompany their pet to the vet or the pound and leave the building alone, empty and broken heart-ed. They describe the experience as the worst and most difficult thing they ever had to do.

THE SOLUTION CAAN needs to provide a safe home for animals like Daisy, Penny, Panda and Rocky and Annie. We have a beautiful 100 acre farm and a vet to take care of the animals. We need to purchase modular kennels, cat condos, and fencing to provide safe outdoor exercise areas for dogs and cats. Once the Sanctuary becomes known in the community we are confident that a well run volunteer program will enable the program to continue.

We will work closely with other social services to identify need. There are many people in the community who desire to help desperate people and animals. The sanctuary will be a happy, uplifting environment where volunteers can put their heart and soul into the success of the program. Our precious residents can travel back and forth as needed, find new guardians, or live out their days in peace and safety. The people in need can continue to benefit from the relationship with their pets and be comforted by the assurance that their cherished friends will always be cared for and loved.

Thank you for reading our story. Please vote for us to help heal broken hearts and save lives.