At a time when shelters are facing an unprecedented number of pet surrenders, a Peterborough-based grassroots organization is helping to find rescue placements for animals potentially facing euthanasia.

No Paw Left Behind does exactly as its name suggests: ensures no pet is left forgotten and abandoned. The charity acts as a “buffer” to help animals when a shelter runs out of space for them, putting them at risk of being euthanized, and finds them a new home at a rescue.

“The shelters that have municipal animal control contracts have to take in strays, and at some point they become full and have to do something to make a little space,” says Sabine McConnell, the founder and board chair of No Paw Left Behind. “These are not dangerous animals or animals at the end of their lifetime. These are just some that have been dealt really bad cards and need a little bit of extra help that the shelters cannot provide.”

After volunteering for some years with a similar organization called Pound Paws, McConnell founded No Paw Left Behind in 2019 and registered it as a charity in 2020.

“I wanted to foster animals, but I am horribly allergic to dogs so I had to be a little careful,” she says. “This was a nice outlet for me to contribute something without actually having another dog in my house. I’m a huge animal lover so when I found (Pound Paws) that was, to me, a really intriguing approach, because it was a bit different as a facilitator between the rescues and shelters. That was a really unique twist and that was very appealing to me.”

Many of the animals supported at No Paw Left Behind come from shelters in Quebec as, according to McConnell, “resources are tighter” than they are in Ontario. Shelters don’t always have the time or access to rescues, so they contact No Paw Left Behind because it has a wider reach to rescues all over Canada — many of which are in Ontario and on the East Coast where there is often more space.

The charity also helps with any legislation that might be involved with moving animals across provincial boundaries, and enlists volunteer drivers’ groups to transport the animals to their new homes.

“These are animals that have no other option, and nobody else will help them — we really are the last resort,” McConnell says. “The shelters do not have the resources to help. They do what they can and it’s not their fault because they have other pressures that they’re facing — they have to take in strays, they have to make room. So, I’m so thankful for them for reaching out to us and allowing us to help.”

If they cannot find a rescue for the animal right away, No Paw Left Behind spends time learning about the animal, putting them into boarding (for dogs) or foster care (for cats), and providing veterinary care where needed to reduce the cost for taking in rescues.

“They all get their shots, and we do tests to make sure they don’t have heartworm or Lyme disease, and just to make sure there isn’t anything lurking in the background,” McConnell explains. “Sometimes the information we get from the shelter is really sparse because they’re just so busy, but we can get a little more information to help them find their rescue spot.”

No Paw Left Behind has committed to always having at least six dogs in boarding and currently have 10, with some waiting to find a rescue and others waiting on transportation to their new home. McConnell says that the organization’s work has been “steady” since last summer, with shelters seeing an influx in pet surrenders and fewer people looking to adopt — especially larger and older dogs.

“A lot of people got animals during COVID-19, but there can be all kinds of issues that come up with animals that have never been alone in all their lives, and then the owners have to go back to work,” she notes. “That adds pressure to the owners, of course, and it’s sometimes hard to deal with those issues. Veterinarian care is harder to get with everything getting more expensive these days, so there’s lots of pressure on the owners which makes it more difficult to keep an animal.”

On Monday (May 27), the charity launched an online silent auction in support of the animals currently under their care, with proceeds going towards upcoming boarding bills for several animals, as well as a few costly surgeries.

The wide selection of goods available through the auction includes a basket with dog-themed items, a cat blanket, a handmade bag, original artworks, and more, all donated by generous supporters. Online bidding is available via the Facebook event page until 9 a.m. on Friday (May 31).

“We’re so grateful for the donors,” McConnell says. “They’re alongside us on that journey to see the animals progressing, too. It just such a wonderful community that comes together to help.”

The charity recently celebrated a success story with the one-year adoption anniversary of Phoenix, the only pet they have helped to get adopted.

“We pulled him from a shelter when he was almost euthanized,” McConnell says, noting he was older and had health issues. “He’s the typical dog we help — the ones that would never get adopted at the shelter because they have a whole bunch of little issues going on and need veterinary care and tests the shelter cannot do. So we took him into our care, fixed him up, and then he got adopted.”

With the team of volunteers, and those who donate, the work done at No Paw Left Behind is, for McConnell, “the best feeling ever.”

“To see how we can all pull together to save these lives is amazing,” she says. “This really is a collaborative approach. Nobody can do this alone and I’m so thankful that we found that little missing piece that we could contribute, but we would not be able to do this without the support and collaboration of everyone else.”

Visit nopawleftbehind.ca to learn more about the charity and to get involved or follow No Paw Left Behind on Facebook.

To participate in the fundraising auction in support of No Paw Left Behind before it ends at 9 a.m. on May 31, visit the Facebook event page to review auction items and to place your bids.

Affording the cost of putting healthy meals on the table is a struggle for many families living in the Kawarthas region, according to a recent area health unit report.

The Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge (HKPR) District Health Unit has released its 2023 food insecurity and poverty report, which shows 12.9 per cent of households in Haliburton County are considered low income and struggled to pay for rent, bills, and healthy food in 2020. The same situation applied to 10.2 per cent of households in the City of Kawartha Lakes, and 8.7 per cent of households in Northumberland County.

Entitled Addressing Food Insecurity and Poverty in the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District, the report captures some of the challenges faced by low-income families in the City of Kawartha Lakes, County of Haliburton, and Northumberland County to pay for necessities, such as housing and food, because incomes and social assistance rates are not keeping up with rising costs.

Since 1998, Ontario public health units have been mandated to monitor food affordability using the national nutritious food basket, a survey tool used by various levels of government and organizations to monitor the cost and affordability of healthy eating based on Canada’s food guide. The food basket includes approximately 60 nutritious foods and their quantities for people in various age and gender groups.

In its report, the HKPR District Health Unit compares the incomes and expenses of several household scenarios to show how much money would be left over for families and individuals after paying for housing and food. In some situations, those expenses alone exceeded their income, leaving not enough money to pay for other basic needs like utilities, phone, internet, and medications.

“When families don’t make enough money to buy food, they are food insecure,” said Sarah Tsang, registered dietitian and health equity coordinator with the health unit, in a media release. “These families are forced to make hard decisions like if they will buy healthy foods or pay for other basics like rent and utilities.”

The HKPR District Health Unit estimates a family of two adults and two children would have spent on average $1,184 per month towards eating healthy in 2023. In this household income scenario within the report, if the family collectively earns minimum wage, they would have spent 28 per cent of their income on food that meets Canada’s food guide. After paying for rent, that would leave them with a few hundred dollars to pay for other basic living expenses.

Food insecurity is a sign of poverty, the health unit noted. Poverty keeps people from meeting their basic needs such as housing, food, clothing, and education.

“Food insecurity is a serious social and public health problem,” said Tsang. “In order to address food insecurity, we need income-based solutions that are long term and that focus on poverty reduction such as, adequate incomes, improving employment standards, increasing social assistance rates and providing (a) basic income guarantee.”

When it came to attaining food, the report showed 20 per cent of Canadian households experiencing food insecurity use food charities, such as food banks and soup kitchens, that offer short-term relief for people who cannot afford to buy their own food.

While food banks and other charitable food programs do help some of the most urgent food needs experienced by a small minority of food insecure people, the report noted, they are unable to address the issue of insufficient incomes that is the cause of poverty and food insecurity.

Other findings in Addressing Food Insecurity and Poverty in the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District include the following:

• In the HKPR district, 39.8 per cent of tenant-households spent more than 30 per cent of their income on housing.
• There are more than 3,300 households waiting for community housing throughout Northumberland County, the City of Kawartha Lakes, and Haliburton County.
• Across the HKPR district, there are more than 9,000 recipients of Ontario Works and the Ontario Disability Support Program combined.
• The 2023 living wage in the HKPR district is $20.60 per hour.

The HKPR District Health Unit is encouraging residents, municipal leaders, and community partners to learn more about the issues impacting many households in its geographical area.

“It is also important to speak up for income-based solutions, support programs and services that make life more affordable, and support companies that respect the health and dignity of their employees,” the health unit said.

Food insecurity is defined in the report as inadequate or insecure access to food due to financial constraints. The physical and mental health of adults and children are impacted by food insecurity. Living in a food-insecure household increases the risk of mental health diagnoses, infections, and non-communicable disease.

Every year, the HKPR District Health Unit publishes a food insecurity report that highlights the struggles faced by low-income families to pay for basic necessities, such as housing and food, because incomes and social assistance rates are not keeping up with rising costs.

The full Addressing Food Insecurity and Poverty in the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District report is available for download from the HKPR District Health Unit’s website.

A 54-year-old Somerville Township man is dead following a collision in Kinmount Sunday morning (May 26).

As around 8:23 a.m., Kawartha Lakes Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) along with fire and emergency services responded to a two-vehicle collision on County Road 121.

The driver of one of the vehicles, a 54-year old man from Somervile Township, was transported to hospital where he was pronounced dead.

County Road 121 was closed from Station Road to Monck Road for about five hours so police could investigate and document the scene.

Two Peterborough men are facing multiple charges for stabbing a man during an attempt to steal his e-bike early Saturday morning (May 25).

At around 2:40 a.m., Peterborough police were called to the Lake Street and George Street area in downtown Peterborough by emergency medical services, who were treating a 52-year-old man who had been stabbed. After arriving at the scene, officers learned two men had attempted to steal the victim’s e-bike.

Officers began tracking the two suspects using a police service dog when police received a second call about two men matching the description given to police who were seen in the George Street and Sherbrooke Street area. Officers arrived in the area, located the two suspects on Charlotte Street, and took them into custody without incident. During a search of the suspects after their arrest, officers seized two knives.

The 52-year-old man who had been stabbed was transported to Peterborough Regional Health Centre and then to a Toronto hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.

As a result of the police investigation, the two suspects — a 22-year-old Peterborough man and an 18-year-old Peterborough man — were each charged with aggravated assault, robbery and wounding, and uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm.

The accused men are being held in police custody for a Saturday court appearance.

With peanut butter, canned tuna, and other items dwindling on the shelves at Kawartha Food Share, Peterborough’s “Porch Pirates for Good” will be combing porches across the city on Saturday, June 1.

The “Porch Pirates for Good” team of volunteers is collecting food and other essential items for the food bank’s city-wide spring food drive.

Ashlee Aitken, general manager of Kawartha Food Share, said the need is currently high for a number of reasons.

“A food drive (at) this time of year is extremely helpful for us to ensure food bank shelves remain stocked during the summer months,” Aitken told kawarthaNOW.

“Typically the majority of our donations come during the holiday season, but unfortunately the need is still present all year long. Throughout the summer months, close to 80 per cent of the food we distribute is purchased product, so this food drive will help us stretch those dollars a little further.”

In addition to donations only trickling in during the warmer months, current food prices are also a big factor contributing to the need for inventory at the Peterborough food bank.

“We know times are tough and food costs are extremely high, so we’re really grateful for any and all donations we receive,” Aitken said.

On a broader scale, the number of people using food banks across Canada has reached an all-time high. Kawartha Food Share said that, in addition to food costs, supply chain shortages have affected Kawartha Food Share clients, donors, and the organization’s own purchasing power.

During previous Porch Pirates for Good food drives, volunteers have collected more than 80,000 pounds of donations on event days.

“We’re thankful for every last donation and, no matter how much food is collected, it’s still more than we had,” Aitken said.

On collection day, community members who wish to take part are asked to leave a bag of non-perishable food items on their front porch. Beginning at 9 a.m., the porch pirates will drive around the city and collect the items and deliver them to the Kawartha Food Share warehouse.

“In the last four years, our pirates have brought in over 140,000 pounds of food and over $13,000 in monetary donations,” Aitken noted in a media release.

The origin of the Porch Pirates for Good food drives go back to the beginning of the pandemic in March 2020. Local filmmaker and performer Megan Murphy organized a porch food drive for Kawartha Food Share called “Spare A Square,” so named beccause toilet paper was in short supply at the time and one of the needed items. In October 2020, she organized another food drive called “Spare A Square #2.”

In March 2021, more volunteers became involved, and they began calling the food drive “Porch Pirates for Good.” Some volunteers got into the spirit and dressed up as pirates on collection day. Kawartha Food Share later took over organizing the spring and fall food drives.

Flyers for the food drive will be distributed the week prior to June 1, and Kawartha Food Share asks donors to include the flyer with their donation so it’s easy for the pirates to spot on porches.

Items needed include peanut butter, canned tuna, canned vegetables and canned fruit, individually wrapped school snacks, pasta and pasta sauce, Heinz Alphagetti, Kraft Dinner, Chef Boyardee, breakfast cereal, gluten-free items (e.g., pasta, cookies, oats), canned soup and stew, feminine hygiene products, and diapers.

People can also give monetary donations to Kawartha Food Share. For every $1 donated, the organization can purchase up to $3 worth of food. Volunteers will be able to collect cheques made out to Kawartha Food Share during their pick-ups on June 1, or donations can be made online at kawarthafoodshare.com/donations.

The organization is still looking for a few more people to help with collection efforts on June 1. For more information or to volunteer, email admin@kawarthafoodshare.com.

The Town of Cobourg will have a part-time mayor this summer.

Mayor Lucas Cleveland announced on Friday (May 25) that he will be returning to work part-time at his downtown fresh produce store The Market & Smør.

“This week, my business partner at The Market & Smør announced that she will be moving on to new work opportunities,” Cleveland says in a statement. “I will therefore be returning to the Market part-time for the next few months to manage the transition until a new team structure is up and running.”

Cleveland’s partner is Montana DesJardins, who announced on social media that her last day at The Market & Smør will be May 31.

Cleveland and DesJardins launched their “zero food waste” green grocer business at 39 King Street East after the couple moved in 2016 to Cobourg from Alberta, where Cleveland had spent more than 10 years in the oil and gas industry. The business saw exponential growth, hiring more than 30 staff within three years.

“Over the coming months, you will see a sharing of duties and mayoral tasks amongst council as I split my time between the role as mayor and local business owner,” Cleveland says. “While I am committed to keeping my open office hours on Tuesdays, the deputy mayor and members of council will be taking meetings in the mayor’s office the rest of the week.”

Cleveland, who was elected mayor in October 2022 with no previous political experience, says the business community has “achieved great progress” in the 19 months since he was elected.

“In 2023 we celebrated 22 grand openings in Downtown Cobourg,” he says. “We are seeing stronger occupancy rates downtown than we have in the last five and 10 years.”

Cleveland adds he has “set a goal this summer to work on securing recreational funding to address our aging Centennial Pool and growing request for additional pickleball facilities.”

“I look forward to spending the next several months serving both my community as mayor and as a local businessperson,” he says.