Coats for Kids and Hat and Mitten Tree

Every November we set up a Coats for Kids donation bin as well as a hat and mitten donation tree to help Parry Sound area children in need of warm clothing.  Gently used and new items are happily accepted.  Please stop by the clinic in the colder months with your donations.

Harvest Share Program

We also have a Harvest Share donation bin set up in the winter months to accept non-perishable foods for the Harvest Share Food Bank in Parry Sound.  This year we also took part in the Harvest Share Festival of Lights, which was a blast!  We decorated a Christmas tree with tons of pet-related goodies, toys and gift certificates to be auctioned off in order to raise funds for Harvest Share.  Here are some pictures of our tree:

Farley Foundation

The Farley Foundation was established by the Ontario Veterinary Medical Association (OVMA) in 2001 and assists people in need by subsidizing the cost of veterinary care for the pets that mean the world to them.

Many of the pet owners assisted by the Farley Foundation are individuals, who were once completely capable of paying for their pet’s care, but through some unforeseeable circumstance (i.e., accident or illness resulting in a life-long mental or physical disability, loss of income through retirement) now find themselves financially dependent on government assistance.

Other pet owners assisted by the Foundation are individuals who wholely benefit from pet ownership (according to study after study), but financial circumstances would otherwise make it impossible for this group to own pets and benefit from their companionship (e.g., physically and mentally disabled and elderly who may not have many people around them who turn to pets as life companions.)

We have a Farley Foundation fundraiser every year, and have received many Friend of Farley awards which recognize outstanding fundraising efforts for the cause.  We even received a gold Friend of Farley award in 2011 for raising over $5000 in donations!  Check out the photos below from our Fundraise for Farley walk-a-thon.

SafePet Program

OVMA’s SafePet Program is dedicated to assisting women in leaving abusive partners by providing temporary housing and care for their pets.

Many women at risk of abuse are reluctant to leave their abusive partners and seek help at a women’s shelter if it means leaving their beloved pet behind with the abuser. Making that final decision to leave an abusive partner is a vital one; through OVMA’s SafePet Program, not only can women make this decision, they can make it more quickly and with ease.

At Cottage Country Animal Clinic, we will do our best to find a foster home for pets during this transition phase.  Community members can sign up at our clinic to become temporary pet foster parents. These volunteers will take care of the pets in their home, yet still have access to a veterinarian for expert advice on taking care of the pets, when needed.

Depending on capacity, if a suitable foster home is not found we may provide foster care for a pet until other arrangements can be made. If you are interested in being involved in the SafePet program please contact our clinic for more information.