Toronto Community Housing tenants amongst thousands in Toronto who continue to benefit from generous support of Humane Society International/Canada and Friends of HSI to care for their animal companions during the pandemic

TORONTO, August 23, 2021—Toronto Community Housing Corporation (TCHC) tenants are among the thousands of Torontonians who've benefited from the generous donation of Humane Society International/Canada (HSI/Canada) and Friends of HSI (FHSI), which has donated free pet food during the pandemic in communities throughout the city. 

HSI/Canada and FHSI held a pop up pet care event August 19 in Moss Park, co-hosted by TCHC. Community members were invited via social media to drop in for food for their animal companions. Through Ruff Times, an organization which arranges emergency pet sheltering services, also took part. 

HSI/Canada and FHSI launched the COVID-19 Animal Response Program in April 2020 to provide critical support to individuals, groups and communities during the pandemic. To date, the program has helped 10,000 people in Ontario (a total of 14,600 pets) with the delivery of over 75,000kg of pet food. Nationally, more than 137,000kg of pet food have been distributed to 16,000 families and 21,000 pets.

QUOTES 

"During the pandemic Toronto Community Housing has continued to deliver essential services and we are very grateful for the generosity of many partners who have reached out to support our communities. By supporting tenants who needed food and supplies for their animal companions during the pandemic, Humane Society International Canada has made life a little easier for hundreds of families during this challenging time." 

- Sheila Penny, TCHC Chief Operating Officer 

"Our animal response team has been working tirelessly to help people who are struggling to provide for their animals, thus helping to keep dogs and cats with their families throughout this pandemic. Partnering with TCHC has allowed us to reach many more individuals that have urgent needs when it comes to their companion animals." 

- Larysa Struk, Project Manager, COVID-19 Animal Response Program, Friends of HSI 

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About Toronto Community Housing 

Toronto Community Housing (www.torontohousing.ca) is Canada's largest social housing provider. Toronto Community Housing provides homes for nearly 60,000 low- and moderate-income households in neighbourhoods across the city. Toronto Community Housing is wholly owned by the City of Toronto and represents a $10-billion public asset.   

Media contact TCHC: TCHC media line, (416) 737-1352 or media@torontohousing.ca 

Media Contact HSI/Canada and FHSI: Larysa Struk, Project Manager, Ontario Covid-19 Animal Response  647-525-0707; lstruk@hsi.org