THUNDER BAY — A city-based airline continues the process of delivering a large shipment of donated pet food to 19 remote northwestern Ontario communities.
The SPCA recently received nearly 13,000 kilos of dog and cat food from Rolf C. Hagen Inc., a pet supplies company, making it one of the largest in-kind donations in the history of the Ontario branch of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
With the assistance of CN Rail, the shipment was sent this month to North Star Air's base at Pickle Lake, from where the airline is distributing the food.
So far, pallets have been flown to Big Trout Lake, Deer Lake, Fort Hope, Marten Falls, Poplar Hill and Sachigo Lake.
The project is part of the SPCA's Year of the Northern Dog initiative, which is aimed at drawing attention to the overpopulation of dogs in northern communities.
"Resources and access to animal welfare services are often limited and getting supplies comes with obstacles, as many are accessed by air only," said Judi Cannon, in charge of partnerships and community outreach for the Ontario SPCA.
In a prepared statement, Hagen thanked the three partner companies for their generosity, adding "We are thrilled to be able to share this food with pet owners in the north."
