Islanders bake a difference for pets on National Cupcake Day
'Let's do something really positive with the things we love to help fight animal cruelty'
Delicious cupcakes topped with pretty sprinkles and animal abuse may seem a stark juxtaposition, but that's exactly what National Cupcake Day is about.
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The cupcakes-for-pets fundraiser originated in Australia years ago, and came to Canada five years ago. P.E.I.'s animal shelter joined in three years ago.
The movement encourages organizations, families and individuals to host cupcake parties and sales to raise money to donate to their local humane society or SPCA.
'Everybody loves cupcakes, everybody loves animals'
"The concept was everybody loves cupcakes, everybody loves animals — let's do something really positive with the things we love to help fight animal cruelty by supporting our local shelter," said Jennifer Harkness, development coordinator with the PEI Humane Society, sharing that
Volunteers with the PEI Humane Society were selling beautifully-decorated cupcakes baked by City View Bakehouse and other volunteers at the Confederation Court Mall in downtown Charlottetown for a minimum donation of $2 each.
Last year Islanders raised almost $18,000 in cupcake sales for the shelter, and Harkness said this year they're hoping to top $20,000. About 30 groups are selling cupcakes this year, Harkness estimates.
'Hard thing to talk about'
Last year the PEI Humane Society seized 70 animals for humane reasons, Harkness said, adding, "that means they were severely neglected or abused."
"It's a hard thing to talk about, when animals are abused and neglected," she said, "but it is something we see, unfortunately on a daily basis."
The money from Cupcake Day goes to shelter operations and veterinary care, she said.
In 2016 1,282 animals went through the shelter. Of those 901 were adopted out, 196 were returned to their owners and 185 were euthanized for health or major behavioural issues, Harkness said.
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Corrections
- An earlier version of this story stated 1,200 animals go through the shelter every year, approximately 900 are reclaimed by their owners or adopted out, and about 300 are euthanized. In fact, in 2016, 1,282 animals went through the shelter. Of those 901 were adopted out, 196 were returned to their owners and 185 were euthanized for health or major behavioural reasons.Feb 28, 2017 10:57 AM AT