08/22/2023
Come and wish Eileen the very best on her new journey, bring your pet for nail trims and come see the latest selection of bows and bandanas. All proceeds will help animals in need.
With very mixed emotions I have made the difficult decision to retire from VPAWS.
My Story began in 2011 following volunteer work with Humane Society International. I developed a passion to help puppy mill dogs and to educate the public at large about the horrors of puppy mills and the pitfalls of buying puppies from anonymous unethical sources. Puppymill Awareness Working Solutions was born.
In 2012, I started campaigning the City of Ottawa and, with the strength, support and expertise of many animal advocates, we succeeded in introducing a bylaw to ban the sale of cats and dogs through pet store/retail channels, most of whom were sourced from puppy mills. This was a win for animals, even although the internet continues to be a big challenge in ending puppy mill practices.
We then developed age appropriate educational programs and for a number of years enjoyed weekly visual and interactive presentations to children and youth groups. Following covid, it became increasingly difficult to continue with this, and so we reinvented ourselves into VPAWS, and found a much needed niche in working with the homeless and vulnerable, offering their pets much needed access to quality vet care. This has been our mandate for the last five years.
It has been an incredible journey.
I take this opportunity to thank every volunteer partner, past and present, who joined me on this journey and who gave their all to help animals. It has been a privilege and an inspiration working with all of you and developing VPAWS into what it is today.
I would like to extend my immense gratitude to every single supporter who believed in our cause and so generously supported us throughout our fundraising efforts. We could not have done any of it without you. I personally could not have done it without the help of Daniel, my hubby, my rock, whose volunteering efforts turned into a full-time commitment.
VPAWS will continue to develop its mandate and move forward in a way that will allow them to best serve animals within our community.
I am planning one last fundraiser for August 26th. If you are out and about in the Rockland area, please drop in to say hello. After that, I need to exhale, ground myself and prepare for whatever new challenges lie ahead.
My heart and soul will always be in helping animals and I will always embrace the opportunity to ease the life of any animal in distress.
In going forward, I can be reached through my personal email at: [email protected]
With heartfelt sincerity
Eileen
