Several hundred residents of the Downtown Eastside community visited the Because They Matter table in Pigeon Park on Sunday, July 23, all eager to pick up high-quality supplies for their beloved pets. Event participants also spoke with many pet guardians about accessing the VHS’s free veterinary care assistance programs.
Each person who connected with the team had a unique journey, and all had incredible bonds with their pets.
Here are some of the amazing people and pets who visited the Vancouver Humane Society’s table in Pigeon Park and shared their shared their stories of resilience and unconditional love.
![Freedom's guardian told the VHS team that Freedom was her daughter’s dog, who tragically passed away from an overdose. Freedom means everything to her, and she described Freedom as her dog granddaughter.](https://vancouverhumanesociety.bc.ca/wp-content/uploads/cache/2023/07/Freedom/688716391.jpg)
![Rhino's guardian told our team that she had been going through a rough time after losing her 16-year-old chihuahua and then Rhino came into her life and turned things around.](https://vancouverhumanesociety.bc.ca/wp-content/uploads/cache/2023/07/Rhino/1226909984.jpg)
![Taylor has been with her guardian since she was a puppy. Her guardian picked up a new leash and collar for Taylor.](https://vancouverhumanesociety.bc.ca/wp-content/uploads/cache/2023/07/Taylor/375391378.jpg)
![Kash visited the Because They Matter table last year, and stopped by with his guardian to say hello again!](https://vancouverhumanesociety.bc.ca/wp-content/uploads/cache/2023/07/Kash/1961725580.jpg)
![Sneaker happily showed off the new harness his guardian picked out for him at the Because They Matter table.](https://vancouverhumanesociety.bc.ca/wp-content/uploads/cache/2023/07/Sneaker4-scaled/764880713.jpg)
In all, the VHS team and event participants handed out thousands of pet supplies and around 400 pamphlets about the Vancouver Humane Society’s veterinary assistance programs.
The VHS’s veterinary support programs help animals get the care they need while staying with their loving families. The need for these programs is growing every year, and it is essential that this need is met to make sure loved animals get the care they require without having to be surrendered to the already overflowing shelter and rescue system. The VHS’s veterinary support programs are only possible through the help of donations from animal lovers like you.
Can you make a donation toward VHS’s $15,000 Because They Matter fundraising goal to help animals and the people who love them?