“It’s been very successful,” said Paul Trask, chair of the SPCA fundraising committee.
“Two weeks ago we brought in seven black lab puppies and within one week, all were adopted.”
In the past year, 30 cats featured at the store have been placed in homes through the offsite adoption program.
This Saturday, six seven-week-old Staffordshire/boxer pups (three males and three females) were brought in to meet the public.
Their mother was found on MacNeil Avenue, malnourished and dehydrated, three days before whelping them.
Those wishing to adopt a pup are supplied with an application form. References are checked and if a specific pup is desired, a $75 deposit is required. The total adoption fee is $275, which covers all needles and spaying or neutering (a certificate is provided for the operation to be performed at a later date).
“It’s better than buying online from somewhere,” said Trask.
“We are regulated by a provincial society that does routine inspections, as opposed to someone you don’t know.”
PetValu also donates proceeds from annual photo ops with Santa and the Easter bunny to the SPCA. A national “paw event” at the store in April will also benefit the shelter.
Ashley Doucette, manager for the store, says she feels it creates a positive atmosphere in the store. People are really happy to meet and greet the puppies. “They’re taking pictures and telling their friends.”
“It’s a win-win situation for everyone. “Especially the animals,” added Trask.
