Update: "80 families"

Thanks to our incredible supporters we have been able to provide food for 40 families (a total of 73 pets!).  It's a great feeling and we are so humbled to be part of such a giving, compassionate community. 

We know there are still 39 families in our community who are struggling with the decision of whether to feed their pets or themselves.  That's a choice no pet owner should have to make, especially over the holidays.  It's a daunting task.  We knew it was a tremendous undertaking when we set out to help these 80 families.  But we knew with the help of people like you, we could do it. And we're getting there!

Right now monetary donations are ideal because they let us purchase exactly what is needed in exactly the right amount.  That way we won't end up with an overabundance of of food that we can't distribute right away, or a shortage of a specific type of food there is an immediate need for.

Many of the remaining pets on our list have very specific dietary requirements. We are fortunate to have a connection with a retired veterinarian who can provide expensive prescription pet food to Project Maddie at cost (a fraction of the cost of buying food from a veterinary clinic). A monetary donation will go much further if the food is being purchased by Project Maddie rather than a member of the public because we can get it for a better price.

We are still gratefully accepting all types of donations. Food donations can be dropped off at Pet Value located at 280 North Service Road W. in Oakville.  There is a particular need for canned food at this time.  We truly appreciate all of the support the community. Every last dollar and every single piece of kibble will help a pet in need.  

Below is one of our 80 pets checking out her "special delivery".

80 families: Making progress but we still need your help!

Our mission to help 80 families in our community feed their pets is off to a great start!

We have picked up all of the food that was generously dropped off for Project Maddie at Pet Valu. Your food and monetary donations have allowed us to assist 26 families in the community which means with your help, we have provided food for 37 pets!  (The photos to the left were taken during a couple of our "drop offs" this week).

This is a tremendous accomplishment that would not have been possible without your support.  We are a grassroots organization and we rely entirely upon the generous support of people like you. We receive no grants, government funding or corporate sponsorship.  Quite simply, without the support of animal lovers in our community our work would not be possible. Again I'd like to thank our supporters who have brought us this far and helped us feed 37 pets! 

We have accomplished something amazing together, unfortunately we are still falling short of our goal. There are still 54 families in need of urgent assistance and that number does not include our regular clients. We desperately need your support so that we can "keep people and pets together". With the holiday season upon us it is our hope that no family will have to choose whether to feed a beloved family member or feed him/herself.  

We have come so far and this mission is off to a tremendous start.  Let's not falter now! No donation is too small.  It all adds up to an incredible act of kindness, one that might keep a dog or cat our of an animal shelter or rescue, which are always inundated with surrendered animals after the holidays. Over the last three years I have seen so much goodness and compassion in people. I believe with all of my heart that we can do this - together!  

Passion for Lockets is passionate about pets!

Donnalee from Passion for Lockets has designed this beautiful Project Maddie pendant!  Passion For Lockets is also donating all of the profits from purchases made through their website from November 28, 2013 - December 31, 2013 to Project Maddie!

Passion for Lockets makes beautiful, unique, custom pieces - perfect for holiday gifts! Give a one of a kind, personalized gift and feed at pet at the same time. www.passionforlockets.com

Thank you to Passion for Lockets for your generosity!

A thank you to our supporters

This began as a post on our Facebook page but that didn't feel sufficient to express the depth of our gratitude.

We've only just begun to help the 80 families in our community but I'm already humbled and honoured by the generosity and caring of our supporters.

Project Maddie began in the spring of 2010. Somebody asked me a very simple question: Do you know of any resources to help low-income pet owners at risk of losing their pets because they can't afford to feed them?  That fateful question came on behalf of a woman who had a beautiful Golden Retriever named Maddie, and Project Maddie was born.

Over the last three and a half years there have been many dogs and cats like Maddie, and thanks to people like you we've been able to help them. By the time people reach out to us for assistance their situation is usually desperate. Most of our clients are food bank users themselves, and usually when they're forced to choose between feeding themselves and feeding their pets they choose to feed their pets.

You can imagine how much a helping hand means to a pet owner in the practical sense. A weight is lifted, and the pet owner has the peace of mind of knowing a beloved furkid has nutritious food to eat. When our clients no longer have to feed their pets what they pick up at the people food bank it means they have more to eat as well.  That alone would be enough to sustain my passion for this project, but Project Maddie makes a difference in another way that I didn't anticipate. It means so much to our clients to know that people care. I've heard it time and time again, when a client is incredulous that a person he or she has never met cares enough to help him or her in such a meaningful, personal way, because what are our relationships with our pets if not meaningful and personal?  More than one client has told me that your generosity and caring has restored their faith in people.

I wish it was possible for you to hear every "thank you", and the now familiar sound of a pet owner's voice cracking as he or she breaks down in tears of relief and joy. It's been three years and it still doesn't feel right to me to be the one who hears the "thank you"s because I am not the one who makes it possible. You are. So I just want each and every one of our angels to know that your support means so much to perfect strangers, the people you cared about enough to help.

Donations for our "80 families" at Pet Valu (280 North Service Rd. W in Oakville, ON)

80 pets!

We've been contacted to provide assistance to 80 pets in our community! This is our largest undertaking since the Wellseley Street fire in 2010.

The details:
Volunteers at a local church provide outreach services in the community, including home visits and helping people feed themselves whenever possible. This particular program doesn't have the resources to help people feed their pets, and they have reached out to us for help. There are approximately 80 families currently in need of urgent assistance. Having run out of pet food these caring pet owners have resorted to feeding their pets their own food. This is troubling for two reasons. The first is it leaves the person with insufficient food for him/herself. The second is what is being fed to the pets isn't conducive to the pet's physical health. In one case a woman is giving her cat the only thing she can - hot dog wieners. We've also heard stories of dogs being fed Kraft Dinner. These people are doing the best they can for the animals they care for, but they need a helping hand.

How to help:
Unopened packages of pet food can be dropped off at the Pet Valu located at 280 North Service Road West in Oakville. If you are dropping off food please be sure to note that it is for Project Maddie and send us an e-mail so that we can thank you!

Monetary donations are gratefully accepted, please click here to visit our donation page. 

We'll keep everyone updated as we go. This is a huge challenge but we are up to it! Please help us fill these little tummies.

Gigi

This little muffin is Gigi. Gigi's mom has been an advocate of Project Maddie in our community for years, doing whatever she could to raise awareness about our little organization. Now her circumstances have changed and she needs our help. It was our pleasure to drop off a bag full of wet food to her and Gigi this evening so that Gigi's needs are looked after while her mom gets back on her feet.

(photo posted with permission)