Calgary dogs and cats get their own 'petsgiving' this weekend
CBC
Rising prices have made it hard for Jolenne Zeitner to care for her family's pets.
The Calgary resident, who has two dogs and a cat, said food for the animals costs too much right now.
"Dog food right now is extremely expensive, for just a little medium-sized bag we're finding anywhere from $15-30, and that's good for maybe a week with how big our animals our," Zeitner said.
That's on top of costs for cat food and her household's groceries, which have become higher because of inflation.
"It's really hard to keep up with that, with the finances and everything going on right now," she said.
But things were a little easier this Thanksgiving.
Zeitner stumbled upon an event held by Calgary-based Parachutes for Pets.
That organization was giving away pet food and other supplies in the neighbourhood of Forest Lawn over the weekend.
While many charities and not-for-profits have free Thanksgiving meals or hampers for folks who need help, Jessica Doucette, tradeshow coordinator for Parachutes for Pets, believes that "pets are often forgotten" in those efforts.
Along with dog and cat food, her organization gave away pet treats, beds and accessories on Saturday to community residents "so that their pet can have a Thanksgiving as well."
"People are quite happy to be able to have a new bed for their pet or something that they otherwise wouldn't be able to afford because they're buying just the necessities," said Doucette.
"It's making a really big difference allowing us to be able to reach out."
Parachutes for Pets' mission is to keep people with their furry companions through programs like pet food banks and hampers, vaccine and wellness clinics and grooming assistance, primarily for low-income households.
Since January 2021, they've donated 13,766 pet food hampers.
P.E.I.'s Public Schools Branch is looking for 50 substitute bus drivers, and it'll be recruiting at three job fairs on Saturday, June 8. The job fairs are located at the Atlantic Superstore in Montague, Royalty Crossing in Charlottetown, and the bus parking lot of Three Oaks Senior High in Summerside. All three run from 9 a.m. until noon. Dave Gillis, the director of transportation and risk management for the Public Schools Branch, said the number of substitute drivers they're hiring isn't unusual. "We are always looking for more. Our drivers tend to have an older demographic," he said.