Local Woman Leaves $741,000 Toward Peterborough's New Animal Care Centre

A Peterborough-area woman, Cynthia (Cyndy) Richards, has left a generous estate gift of $741,000 to the Peterborough Humane Society. The donation will be used towards Our Pet Project, the building campaign for the Humane Society’s new Animal Care Centre.

Richards grew up in Peterborough. She spent most of her life working as an X-ray technician, working briefly in Toronto before leaving for Edmonton, Alberta where she lived for most of her career. Living primarily in the country, Richards owned both horses and cats. In 2000, she returned to her family home in Peterborough, bringing both her two horses and cats with her. All of her cats were rescues.

Photo of Cynthia (Cyndy) Richards courtesy Peterborough Humane Society

“Her whole life she had a deep love for animals,” says Pat de Villiers, a long-time friend and Richards’ power of attorney.

Richards was an avid volunteer at the Peterborough Humane Society. "She would come into the shelter, take her coat off, say hi to everyone before starting her day and then she would spend all her time with the cats,” says PHS Animal Care employee, Susan Lashmar, who has worked at the shelter since 2002. “She’d snuggle them, help groom them and loved every minute of it. She would come in as often as she could".

Rendering of new Animal Care Centre courtesy Peterborough Humane Society

Richards’ legacy and love for animals will live on as the Centre’s Cat Adoption Program, which will be named the Cynthia Richards Cat Adoption Program in her memory. Her name will also be memorialized with signage in the Cat Adoption areas and on the Centre’s Donor Wall in the Adoption and Education Centre’s lobby. Thanks to Richards’ support, the new Centre will provide each cat with more space and natural light.

The Peterborough Humane Society still needs support to cross the finish line and build its new Centre. Community members interested in learning more on how to leave a gift in their will or making a donation to help build the new Animal Care Centre are encouraged to contact Alex Tindale, Campaign Manager, at a.tindale@ptbohs.com.

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Nexicom Commits $126,000 To Our Pet Project Campaign To Build New Animal Care Centre

Nexicom has announced its commitment of $126,000 to Our Pet Project, the Peterborough Humane Society’s campaign to build the new Animal Care Centre, and will sponsor the Centre’s Adoption Technology Hub.

“2020 has been a rough year for all of us but one thing that stands out is the impact our pets have on our lives—whether it’s keeping us fit through daily walks or being that constant companion that provides unconditional love and improves our mental health,” says Julie Howe, Sales & Marketing Manager at Nexicom. “We’re so proud to be partnering with the Humane Society and we challenge other businesses in town to think outside of the box of how they can help to build this Animal Care Centre for our community.”

Photo from announcement at future site of Animal Care Centre courtesy Peterborough Humane Society

Designed by Peterborough firm, Lett Architects, the Humane Society’s new Animal Care Centre will sit on nearly 20 acres of land at 1999 Technology Drive. It will be home to the Humane Society’s Adoption and Education Centre that will serve as a community hub, and allow for expansion of their outreach, education and advocacy programs.

The Adoption Technology Hub, powered by Nexicom, will provide in-person and online visitors the opportunity to view animals available for adoption and to complete their adoption application online. Computer terminals will be located in the main lobby of the facility’s Adoption & Education Centre.

The new Centre will also be home to the region’s only High Volume Spay and Neuter Clinic providing accessible services to our community, and Canada’s first Provincial Dog Rehabilitation Centre in partnership with the Ontario SPCA and Humane Society.

“The new Peterborough Animal Care Centre will set a new standard for animal wellness in Canada and we are excited to have amazing corporate partners, like our friends at Nexicom, who share our vision for the future of our community and its pets.” says Shawn Morey, Executive Director at the Peterborough Humane Society.

Our Pet Project, the campaign to build the new Peterborough Animal Care Centre, has raised over $7 million towards their $10 million goal and is looking for local businesses and animal lovers to help them cross the finish line and get their Centre built.  

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Peterborough Humane Society's New State Of Art Animal Care Centre Is Almost Shovel Ready

Our Pet Project, the Peterborough Humane Society campaign to build the new Peterborough Animal Care Centre, is much closer to being a reality. They have announced in an update letter that over $6.6 million has been raised to date. Riding a wave of momentum, over $400,000 was raised in the last few months alone.

“The Peterborough Animal Care Centre is a shovel-ready project with all planning approvals, permits and tender documents in place,” says Shawn Morey, Exective Director, Peterborough Humane Society. “Construction will begin once we have secured a minimum of 80 percent of the $10,337,000 required to build, which is a best practice in capital campaign fundraising. We are excited that we are on target to meet these goals.”

According to the building schedule prepared by Lett Architects, it will take 12 to 18 months to complete the project, and the goal is to start construction in the fall this year, with construction anticipated to be completed in winter 2021.

A feasibility study conducted demonstrated a significant need for an Animal Care Centre that acts as both a community hub and centre of excellence for best practice in shelter health and wellness, and accessible veterinary services for vulnerable populations. The new Centre will serve 946,666 people across the City and County of Peterborough and surrounding areas (Durham, Northumberland, Kawartha Lakes, & Haliburton).

In addition, the Centre will stimulate community economic development through increased tourism and the creation of 20 new, full-time equivalent positions, and positively impacting over 50 jobs throughout the design and construction phase.

The majority of new positions will be in the Regional Spay/Neuter Clinic, including veterinarians, registered veterinary technicians, animal care staff, and customer service specialists.

“This is an opportunity to create new learning opportunities to attract and retain talent in Peterborough and the Kawarthas, as the Centre will attract leaders in veterinary care and animal medicine research to the region,” Morey adds.

[Related: How The New Peterborough Humane Society Will Be A Gamechanger For Animal Welfare]

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LLF Lawyers Pledges $25,000 To Peterborough Humane Society Our Pet Project Campaign

Our Pet Project, the Peterborough Humane Society’s campaign to build its first-of-its-kind Animal Care Centre, has received a $25,000 pledge towards the new Centre from Peterborough-based LLF Lawyers.

“We are so excited to be a part of Our Pet Project to build the new Peterborough Animal Care Centre,” says Joe Grant, Associate at LLF, who adopted a dog there five years ago. “We are all animal lovers and have been supporters of the Humane Society for many years. Anyone who has been to the current facility can attest to the great work being done as the largest animal shelter in Peterborough County and the only open admission facility.”

Joe Grant, Associate at LLF, and his dog, Molly, who he adopted from PHS 5 years ago

The Peterborough Humane Society (PHS) was established in 1941, and the current shelter was built in 1956 and designed initially as a pound. While the current site has served the community well for the last 60-plus years, PHS has outgrown the space and is caring for more animals than ever before.

In the new, purpose-built facility, animals will have more room and will experience less noise and stress, thereby reducing anxiety and setting them up for a greater opportunity to meet their perfect family.

“In addition to what this Centre will do for our four-legged friends, we’re looking forward to the impact it will have on our local and regional economy,” says Bill Lockington, LLF Founding Partner. “By bringing 20 full-time equivalent positions, and impacting 50 jobs in the design and construction, this local project will create needed, meaningful employment and help attract and retain top veterinary talent to Peterborough and the Kawarthas.”

Joe Grant also has a rescue cat, Steve

Designed by Peterborough-based Lett Architects, the new Peterborough Animal Care Centre will sit on 20 acres of land on Technology Drive and will be home to the Humane Society’s new Adoption and Education Centre that will serve as a community hub, while allowing for expansion of the Humane Society’s outreach, education and advocacy programs.

“We are very excited that LLF has made Our Pet Project their pet project too,” says Shawn Morey, Executive Director at the Peterborough Humane Society. “Our vision is to lead the way in animal welfare in Canada, and this donation takes us another step closer to achieving this goal.”

Fundraising for the new Peterborough Animal Care Centre is now well over the halfway mark, with several families and businesses pledging their contributions in the last couple of months.

[Related: 5 Things You May Not Know About PHS; How The New PHS Will Be Gamechanger For Animal Welfare]

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Peterborough Humane Society Receives $25,000 Donation From Leask Family For Their Our Pet Project Capital Fundraising Campaign

Our Pet Project—the Peterborough Humane Society’s campaign to build its first-of-its-kind Animal Care Centre—has received a $25,000 donation towards the new Centre, which will set a new standard for animal welfare in Canada.

The Leask family was inspired to give by their son, Todd (pictured below), a dedicated supporter of the Humane Society who has been walking dogs at the Humane Society for more than five years.  

Todd Leask and PHS dog, Baxter

The Leask family did a tour of the existing facility this summer and were impressed with the work and dedication of the staff and volunteers—despite the limitations of the building.

“Even under these conditions, they do a yeoman’s job of caring for the many animals they take in, care for and then re-home into suitable homes,” says Bob Leask. “We were pleased they spay and neuter all animals prior to putting them up for adoption, thus controlling the pet overpopulation in our region. It is obvious the present quarters are over-crowded and proper animal care is a challenge.”

Rendering of new facility

Designed by Peterborough-based Lett Architects, the new Peterborough Animal Care Centre will sit on 20 acres of land on Technology Drive and will be a Canadian first—setting the standard for animal shelters in Canada. The purpose-built facility will be home to the Humane Society’s new Adoption and Education Centre, which is designed with animals’ well-being in mind, providing more space, natural light and reducing stress.

In addition to the Provincial Dog Rehab Centre, the Peterborough Animal Care Centre will also be home to the region’s only accessible Spay/Neuter Clinic. The Humane Society anticipates that over 5,000 pets and their owners will benefit from this service each year, reducing the number of unwanted pets in the province.

Rendering of new faclity

Fundraising for the new Peterborough Animal Care Centre is now well over the halfway mark. “We are excited to be one step closer to building our greatly needed new Centre,” says Executive Director Shawn Morey. “The philanthropic leadership of the Leask family and others will help us to reach our goal and make this vision to lead the way in animal welfare, a reality. I encourage people to join us and make this their Pet Project.”

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Anonymous Donor Pledges $50,000 To Peterborough Humane Society's Our Pet Project Campaign

A Toronto-based donor who wishes to remain anonymous has pledged $50,000 to “Our Pet Project”, Peterborough Humane Society’s campaign to build a first-of-its-kind new Animal Care Centre in the community.

“When we heard that the Peterborough Humane Society is going to be building a new state-of-the-art facility, we jumped at the opportunity to help out,” the couple who made the donation say. “Like everyone on the planet, we love our pets! Our wish is that all pets should receive nothing but the best care and a loving home, and this centre will be a massive step toward that goal. We look forward to seeing the Peterborough Animal Centre becoming a reality."

Rendering of future home of Peterborough Humane Society

“This $50,000 gift gets us one step closer to building our greatly needed new Centre,” says Shawn Morey, Executive Director at the Peterborough Humane Society. “We, however, continue to need the support of individuals and our community to reach our goal and make this vision to lead the way in animal welfare, a reality. I encourage people to join us and make this their Pet Project.”

In addition to this gift, the Humane Society has received generous contributions from local families and businesses. There has also been a significant investment of $1.68 million from the City of Peterborough, and $2 million from the Ontario SPCA and Humane Society. This takes its Our Pet Project campaign well over the halfway mark in reaching its $10 million fundraising goal. 

Designed by Peterborough-based Lett Architects (see renderings in this post), the new Peterborough Animal Care Centre will sit on 20 acres of land on Technology Drive and will be a Canadian first, setting a new standard and raising the bar for animal shelters across the country.

Rendering of future home of Peterborough Humane Society

The purpose-built facility will house the Humane Society’s new Adoption and Education Centre, which is designed with animals’ well-being in mind—providing more space, natural light and less stress. The space will be open and inviting, serving as a community hub and allowing for expansion of the Humane Society’s outreach, education and advocacy programs.

The Peterborough Animal Care Centre will also be home to Canada’s first Provincial Dog Rehab Centre (in partnership with the Ontario SPCA and Humane Society), and the region’s only High-Volume Spay/Neuter Clinic. The Humane Society anticipates that more than 5,000 animals will benefit from this service each year, reducing the number of unwanted pets in the province, supporting other local rescue groups and helping animals become available for adoption sooner.

[Related: How the New Peterborough Humane Society Will Be Gamechanger for Peterborough; 5 Things You May Not Know About Peterborough Humane Society]

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