Make a donation to rescue foundation until Feb. 14

By Laura Lennie, News Staff

Global Pet Foods in Stoney Creek is hoping to give homeless animals a new leash on life this month through Global Pet Foods and Hill’s Science Diet’s annual Show Us Your Heart campaign.

The store’s 2273 Rymal Rd. E. and 184 Hwy. 8 locations are collecting donations for the Animal Angel Rescue Foundation (AARF) until Feb. 14 as part of the campaign, which raises funds for animal shelters across Canada, having generated more than $250,000 for homeless animals since 2005.

AARF rescues, rehabilitates and re-homes abandoned, abused and unwanted animals.

Stoney Creek resident Deanna Maerz established the not-for-profit foundation in 1998 and works with Hamilton Animal Control to rescue animals that would otherwise be euthanized.

“The reason I like to support AARF is Deanna; she does this all out of her own pocket or from donations,” said locations owner Steve Krupp, adding his locations have donated food to and held fundraisers for the foundation in the past. “It’s a completely selfless endeavour. She’s doing it because she loves animals so much and she takes animals that, in a lot of cases, would have been put down, rehabilitates them and gets them homes, which is fantastic.”

Krupp said when community members donate $1 in-store, Global Pet Foods and Hill’s Science Diet will match the donation.

Customers can also enter to win a year’s supply of free Hill’s Science Diet pet food and those who donate $5 or more will receive 10 bonus air miles at the time of donation, he added.

“Every donation helps,” Krupp said. “The great thing about this is the money’s going to a local rescue; it’s going toward helping animals within our own community. It’s just nice to support something local and I think people really like to get behind that.”

Krupp said, with help from the community, the locations raised more than $1,000 combined for AARF last year.

This year, the goal is $2,000.

Krupp said there are so many abused animals in communities across Canada.

“There’s nowhere that it’s not happening and without organizations like AARF to help them, there’s nobody to help them,” he said. “If you care, and I think most people do, this is a great way to help your community and help take care of these animals that are in need. Often, the animals have done nothing wrong, they just haven’t been able to find a home; they’re great animals and they just need a little bit of love, some attention and somebody to take them in and give them that home that they’ve been looking for.”

Community members can help by making donations until Feb. 14 at Global Pet Foods’ 2273 Rymal Rd. E. and 184 Hwy. 8 locations or online at www.facebook.com/globalpetfoods.