The face of Don Cherry and his iconic dog Blue will help make Valentine’s day sweeter for homeless pets all over Canada.
Global Pet Foods (GPF) has recruited Cherry and Blue to showcase their seventh annual Show us Your Heart campaign this year. GPF has 155 stores across the country and it supports over 100 shelters and pet-related charities. Jim Walker, President of Global Pet Foods, has a goal of raising $150,000 this year for pets in need. He’s thrilled to have Cherry on board with the campaign.
“Don Cherry is the first famous guy as a face for the event,” Walker says. “He’s a giving kind of guy. Big heart when it comes to pets — and giving to dogs and animal rescue groups.”
This year GPF and Hill’s Pet Nutrition Science Diet will match donations dollar-for-dollar at the end of the program. All the stores, both corporate and franchise, will determine which local shelter or pet charity they want to see it go to.
“Customers donate a dollar — we match that dollar,” Walker says. “The reason we do it that way is we get more of a buy in within the community. They know where their money is going.”
A few places that will feel the love are rescues like Aurora’s North Toronto Cat Rescue, Saskatoon’s New Hope Dog Rescue and Earth Spirit Horse Rescue, according to canadianliving.com.
GPF’s customer Cheryl King adopted her feline from the Urban Cats Relief rescue last February.
“I think there’s so many cats — animals that need help,” says King, who thinks the Show Us Your Heart campaign is a great idea. “It’s less about consumerism and more about pets well being. Helping people care for these animals is a good show of love and caring and community.”
She will be donating during the program. “I like doing my part,” she says. “I’m extremely grateful for the care someone gave my cat and I’m glad to help.”
Walker, who started of as a franchisee with just a store back in 1992, became president of the overall company by 1995. He adopted his own dog from the Portuguese Waterdog rescue group.
“[I] can’t imagine any pet owner, whether they got their cat or dog from a shelter or a rescue, not being interested in this,” Walker says. “Any customer would want to do it. If it’s inconvenient to drop by a store, we do it online. We accept Paypal donations. We have it on Facebook. We have mobile giving — that money is matched as well!”
Last year’s campaign raised $100,000 in just a week. This year, they’re hoping to help even more animals in need.
The nationwide fundraiser runs from February 2-16 and accepts donations in any Global Pet Foods store, online or from your mobile phone. Donations over $5 in-store or more will also receive Air Miles as a bonus.
(photo credit: Getty Images)
