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ADHS receives $15k and counting through #BettyWhiteChallenge donations
January 27, 2022 · 0 Comments
Animal lover and “First Lady of Television’ Betty White died on New Year’s Eve 2021 just weeks shy of her 100thbirthday.
Best known for her role as Rose Nylund on The Golden Girls, White was a huge advocate for animal rights and has been commemorated in part through a social media fundraiser named the #BettyWhiteChallenge.
The Challenge asked people to honour White’s legacy by donating to their local animal shelter and the Alliston & District Humane Society (ADHS) has benefitted from this generosity.
The Times spoke with ADHS President Jane Clarke to see how the #BettyWhiteChallenge has impacted the local shelter. Although it is not fully understood who started the movement, Clarke confirms that the donations received in Ms White’s name – before and after her passing – have been a great way to help animals in need and bring awareness to the ADHS.
“Betty White was a great comedian and animal welfare advocate,” Clarke told The Times. “We posted our support for the challenge about a week before Betty’s birthday on our website and social media platforms. To date, $15,935 has been donated to ADHS, as of the end of the day on January 17. Money is continuing to come in. We even had people at the shelter door every day for a week before Betty’s birthday, donating by cash or cheque.”
Currently, the ADHS spends nearly 80 per cent of all donated funds on animal care, maintaining the shelter and medical bills.
“We can always use monetary donations,” said Clarke of the influx of support. “We also welcome donations of animal food and other animal items. The pandemic has affected our corporate food sponsors, so we are looking for larger food donations from a business or corporate partner. In addition to feeding our own animals, the ADHS provides food to 150 plus feral cats yearly, as well as helping out local food banks when we have excess food.”
Although the number of animals in care at the ADHS changes often, at press time there were 93 animals looking for their forever homes, including those in foster homes and the shelter itself.
“They are dogs, cats, kittens, domestic rabbits, and the odd other small animal such as guinea pigs for example,” said Clarke.
The impact from the COVID–19 pandemic has been felt by the ADHS including the loss of volunteer help.
“We do have a significant number of retired and senior volunteers who are working hard to stay safe, as they should,” confirms Clarke. “The ADHS has implemented COVID screening and contact tracing, masks are mandated for all volunteers, as is constant hand washing, and the numbers of people in the shelter are limited. We have also recently installed HEPA filters in all of our main rooms.”
Clarke says the shelter has also seen an increase in surrenders and abandonments during the pandemic, particularly of domestic rabbits. On the plus side, Clarke says they currently have wait lists for small animals. “Our adoptions have remained steady throughout the pandemic,” she said. “There are a lot of people looking for pets during the pandemic, and dogs are particularly in short supply. The ADHS gets dozens and dozens of applications for every puppy and adoptable dog.”
With the increase in demand and a shortage of volunteers – plus capacity limits, Clarke told The Times that the ADHS is not currently running any adoption weekend open houses.
“There will be no open houses until the end of the pandemic. Potential adopters can look on our website for animals currently available for adoption,” said Clarke. “Another good way to keep up with animals looking for homes as well is through our social media pages. Adopters should fill in an application form and they will get a call to come in and see the animals. All adoption meets and greets are by appointment only.”
The ADHS began in 1988 when a group of local residents began a conversation on what they could do to help abandoned and neglected animals.
The organization has evolved from a foster home-based rescue into a large and vibrant volunteer organization. Now with a permanent home on the 4th line of Adjala–Tosorontio since 2010, the ADHS has 150 volunteers and two full-time employees.
The ADHS serves the townships of New Tecumseth, Mulmur, and Adjala–Tosorontio as well as the Villages of Cookstown, Rosemont and Hockley and the Town of Schomberg.
“[We] provide shelter for stray and unwanted animals with priority given to those that have been abused and neglected,” said Clarke.
The ADHS also provides a lost and found reporting service for the community as well as wildlife services, while serving as the municipal pound for the townships of Essa, Adjala–Tosorontio and Clearview Township, plus canine control for Adjala–Tosorontio.
“The ADHS is a no kill organization,” Clarke points-out. “Animals are not euthanized for space, but only if a veterinarian recommends this when an animal is critically ill and suffering. Our extensive medical bills each year are spent to give animals a chance to recover and be adopted.”
Funds collected through the #BettyWhiteChallenge will be used to help offset such medical bills at the ADHS.
Upcoming fundraisers for the ADHS include their annual National Cupcake Day on February 28.
“Groups, individuals, and businesses make cupcakes and donate the sale proceeds to ADHS,” said Clarke. “Our gala at the Gibson Centre has been postponed twice due to the pandemic. It is now scheduled for May 7, and our annual Walk-A-Dogathon is always held in June. We are waiting to see the situation in the province before we decide if we will go ahead with these events.”
To make a donation by credit card, visit the ADHS website and click on Betty White’s picture (allistonhumane.com/donate-now). E-transfers can be sent to: finance@allistonhumane.com and cheques can be mailed to: P.O. Box 1455, Everett Ontario. L0M 1J0
(Note: Your name and address must be provided for e-transfers or on cheques if the donor wishes to receive a tax receipt).
For more information about the Alliston & District Humane Society visit them online at allistonhumane.com or ’Like’ and ‘Follow’ them on social media at www.facebook.com/allistonhumane or @alliston_humane.
By Wendy Gabrek
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