Can you hear the pitter patter? That’s the sound of the sweetest day of the year approaching! PAH and our Wellness Clinics will be celebrating National Cupcake Day™ on Monday, February 24th, 2019! We will be ‘baking’ the difference in the lives of pets in our community. Cupcake Day is a coordinated Canadian event to support local SPCA and Humane Society shelters across the country. The campaign has raised $3.5 million to date, and last year PAH and our Wellness Clinics raised $395 for the Ontario SPCA Renfrew County Animal Centre.
Heather Jobe, the Community Development Coordinator at the Ontario SPCA Renfrew County Animal Centre sweetened the deal by letting everyone know why she thinks Cupcake Day- or shall we call it Cupcake Season- is the sweetest! “I would have to say the month leading up to National Cupcake Day is my favorite time of the year!” Jobe said. “It is during this time that I really get a sense of how sweet our community is through their involvement in National Cupcake Day! Between the dozens upon dozens of cupcakes baked and donated, the numerous volunteer hours spent baking and promoting how cupcakes save animals lives, and the funds raised each year, it is nothing short of inspirational!”
The community rallies to support pets in need, and when all the sprinkles have settled, the cherry on top is how far that support goes. “Last year, over $29,000 was raised locally through our National Cupcake Day Campaign,” Jobe said. “In 2019, the more than 800 animals that came through our doors benefited hugely from funds raised during National Cupcake celebrations!”
PAH is a big supporter of the Ontario SPCA Renfrew County Animal Centre year round, but on Cupcake Day we turn the temperature up! Each clinic will have sweets for sale from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM on February 24th. Our team members spend all day baking before the big event, sprinkling in a little bit of love so we can put a sweet smile on the faces of everyone who visits us. Not able to make it on February 24th? Stop in the next day- we might have some left over sweets and snacks!
February is a busy month for Jobe and her Paw Patrol, who visit Cupcake parties all over the community to show support and sample the goods. “Our Paw Patrol, which consists of staff and volunteers- 2 and 4 legged- visit an average of 20 schools and businesses during the month of February alone,” Jobe said. “It is a deliciously busy time of year! On the actual day, this year being the 24th of February, we travel around our Community and pop in to thank those that are holding their special events- and sample their delectable treats!”
Anyone unable to host a Cupcake party can help in other ways. “There are so many scrumptious ways to help,” said Jobe. “Monetary donations are always welcome! As we are always in need of cupcakes for events, donating cake mixes, icing, eggs, oil, sprinkles for our bakers to whip up some goodies is an awesome way to contribute! Sharing information about National Cupcake Day through social media is also a great way to spread the word! Tell your friends and family about all the sweet ways this campaign helps change lives fur the better!”
All baked goods at PAH are sold by donation. Every little bit counts for the pets in our community. We are registered online as the Flea Musketeers for anyone who wants to make an online donation. Do you want to join in the fun? Check out the National Cupcake Day website and register a team online! If we won’t see you on Monday, February 24th, please still consider donating either online or directly to the OSPCA. You can join us in helping rescue tens of thousands of animals across Canada. Let’s give these pets a second chance!
By Stacey McIntyre-Gonzalez
Stacey is a CSR and Media Coordinator at Pembroke Animal Hospital. She has been working at PAH for almost 5 years. She enjoys hiking with her two mountain dogs Hazel and Keira and nature photography.
Photos by Stacey McIntyre-Gonzalez