Store Name: Global Pet Foods Markham & Global Pet Foods Unionville

Store Address: 208-5990 16th Ave, Markham, ON L3P 7R2 / 4721 Hwy 7, Unionville, Ontario L3R 1M7

$1 for Every Nutram Bag Supports: Helping Homesless Pets

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Helping Homeless Pets (HHP) is an umbrella organization of pet rescues (currently 29, but soon to grow), catering to a number of companion animal species.  Established in 2006, HHP works to support legitimate and ethical Canadian pet rescue organizations by assisting with fundraising and various administrative and promotional tasks, freeing up our members to better focus on the care and rehoming of the animals they have rescued.  

Assistance to our member rescues is provided in a number of ways.  Proper assessment, vet care, fostering and adoption screening/placement are the most time-consuming aspects of rescue, and medical care creates the largest financial need.  Our goal is to provide direct help with some of the administrative and fundraising aspects of rescue, so that volunteers can direct more of their time to caring for animals. 

HHP’s structure provides a means for our members to raise funds, which are directed to their own rescue, and set aside for their use.  Donors can specify which rescue(s) they wish to support, and

be assured that member has the use of that money for legitimate rescue expenses (primarily veterinary costs).  Donations made direct to HHP to the general fund are regularly dispersed to members, and tax receipts are provided for all donations over $25 made via HHP.

Additionally, HHP support includes:

·         providing opportunities for our members to liaise with and help each other with transports, assessments and home visits, through our members-only FB group;

·         providing access to comprehensive, cost-effective insurance through the HHP group policy;

·         providing tax receipts for donations made to member groups without charitable status;

·         educating current and future pet owners, through campaigns, informational brochures and public outreach;

·         promoting members’ activities through the organization’s very active FB page (20,000+ followers);

·         and helping to publicly raise awareness of the plight of homeless animals.

Currently, day-to-day dealings with potential adopters, animal shelter workers and vets – as well as the numerous other people and organizations involved in the care and placement of rescue animals – have been complicated by COVID-19 restrictions and concerns.  Consequently, HHP is also striving to help member groups meet both the pre-existing challenges of rescue work and the new and complex obstacles caused by the ongoing health emergency.   

Ethical rescue and rehoming of companion animals requires an enormous level of commitment and accountability from rescue groups, and HHP strives to ensure that members adhere to the highest standards.  We require that our member rescues observe a Code of Ethics that gives a clear framework within which each group must operate, and a Code of Conduct that governs how all their volunteers deal with each other and the public.

HHP is a Canadian-based charitable organization, and we have strict policies concerning the origin of rescued pets taken in by our member groups.  Dog rescues must always give priority to dogs originating in Canada, but may import some shelter dogs from the USA, provided they are healthy and properly vetted (including vaccination and heartworm testing) prior to transport, are safely transported, and meet all Canadian import requirements.  Our cat and small animal rescues are not permitted to import animals from outside of Canada.

We are working to unite pet rescues across Canada, in the knowledge that by working together we can rescue more companion animals, and prevent future homeless pets.