Kitchener–Waterloo Humane Society Receives Summit Award for Animal Sheltering

Kitchener. October 16, 2006

The Kitchener-Waterloo Humane Society (KWHS) is pleased to announce that it has received the Banff Care in the Community Summit Award for Animal Sheltering.  This pet-industry conference held its national awards ceremony on Thursday, October 12, 2006 handing out honours for animal sheltering, animal re-homing, animal wellness and animal community care.   The Summit, held in Banff, Alberta, brought together leaders and visionaries from across Canada who specialize in the care, health and wellness of urban pets.

KWHS is proud to be recognized by their peers as the organization most deserving based on the following criteria:
1.    Implementation of programs, codes of conduct, or best practices that improve the levels of care for animals in a shelter.
2.    Leadership within and /or beyond the resident community in the area of programs, best practices , or codes of conduct that improve the levels of care for animals in transition to pet families
3.    Contributions to shelter care systems, shelter culture, or the business of shelter operations as recognized by an identified group of peers.
Other nominees in this category were The Calgary Humane Society, The Hamilton Burlington SPCA, and The City of Vancouver Animal Control Services.

KWHS has a state–of-the-art Centre that was renovated in 2003 and a new entrance added in 2006 that was built for the optimum animal welfare.  The Centre boasts individual dog adoption pods with outside runs, separate ventilation systems that provide fresh continuous air flow and a reduction in air-borne diseases.  In addition, cats have specially designed hide-a-boxes that allow them to “hide” and control their environment but still be seen by adopters, and each dog has a bed that allows off-the-floor warmth and comfort.  KWHS has a reputation for sharing their successes with other shelters and Humane Societies and is well known in the industry as experts in animal welfare.  In addition, KWHS is a leader in humane education, boasts 480 active volunteers, and is known for their innovative events to enhance the pet-owner bond.

Other award winners for innovative programs were:
The Ottawa Humane Society for Animal Re-Homing
Eglinton Veterinary Facilities for Animal Wellness
The City of Calgary Animal and Bylaw Services and Calgary Humane Society for Animal Community Care.

Ward McAlister, Manager KWHS invites the community to visit the Centre at 250 Riverbend Dr., Kitchener, “Come and see first-hand why your Humane Society is so highly regarded in the industry.  The community can share in our award by taking pride in the level of care we provide to the homeless and unwanted pets.”  The Centre is open to the public 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Sundays.

Kitchener-Waterloo Humane Society:

Since 1927, the Kitchener-Waterloo Humane Society (KWHS) has been responsible for the welfare of animals in the twin cities of Kitchener, Waterloo, and their surrounding communities.  KWHS is one of the largest humane societies in Ontario.  As a member of the community, our mission is to be a proactive leader in providing humane care through education, advocacy and enforcement to promote the well-being of all animals.