Canada's animal lovers have pushed a unique animal welfare project close to the front of the line for a $100,000 grant.
Patti Dale Animal Shelter manager Sean Baker has entered the shelter, operated by Langley Animal Protection Society (LAPS), in the on-line competition.
LAPS is a finalist for a $100,000 Pepsi Refresh Project grant (see the website: http://www.refresheverything.ca/helplapshelplangley) and is currently sitting at fourth place across Canada. In this campaign, Pepsi is giving away over $1,000,000 in grants and it is letting the public decide who gets the money.
Every day until Feb. 28, supporters have a chance to vote for the winner.
"We believe that we should be the winner," says Baker.
"With this grant, we would finally be able to build a proper training and education centre on our current shelter site. This would provide us with the space needed to expand our unique training programs, develop classes for the public, host educational seminars, and provide programs for children. Ultimately, this would make a world of difference to the animals in our community."
The proposed education centre will provide basic obedience training classes and promote humane treatment of dogs, to ensure the adopted dogs are good citizens and are not returned to the shelter because their owners can't manage them.
LAPS is a small, grassroots, volunteer-driven non-profit organization working to save animals. Since 2003 LAPS has helped more than 10,000 stray, lost and unwanted pets in the community.
The shelter receives financial support from Langley Township for animal control services, but the majority of the work at the shelter is performed by volunteers.
"Please, post this on your Facebook page, email it out to all of your contacts, tell all of your friends to vote for LAPS. We need your help to help the animals," said Baker.