People in Burnaby aren't the only ones in need this holiday season - homeless cats and dogs need help, too.
That's why Burnaby resident Kristen Neratini started Loki's Christmas Wish in 2008.
The homeless pet campaign helped 21 animal shelters and rescues this year by collecting bedding, toys, food, treats and other items, and distributing the items on Sunday.
Two local businesses in the Holdom area helped with the campaign, as well.
The Self Storage Depot donated two months of storage for the donations and Canine Corner Daycare opened its space for the campaign's sorting and pickup event last weekend.
On Saturday, volunteers gathered at Canine Corner to sort and package all the donations, and on Sunday, staff from the 21 recipient animal shelters and rescues came for a "pick up party."
"People really pour their hearts into this program, and it's wonderful to put the donations directly into the hands of these amazing organizations," Neratini said in a press release. "They do as much as they can year-round with very few resources."
Neratini, a director of HugABull Advocacy and Rescue Society, started the campaign because she wanted to do something meaningful in memory of her dog Loki after he passed away, according to April Fahr, marketing and communications director for the society.
"Working in rescue, she knew that the holidays were the hardest time for shelter animals," Fahr wrote in an email to the NOW. "Adoptions are low, shelters are short on staff and volunteers, and nights are cold."
The campaign donates to smaller shelters and volunteer-run rescues, and these often don't have the resources to fundraise, or get corporate sponsorships.
"Many people don't realize that the smaller shelters are really under-resourced, and some of the animals don't have a bed or blanket to sleep on," Neratini said. "Every donation, whether a new or gently-used item, makes a huge difference."
In the first year, the campaign supported one shelter.
This year, 40 businesses collected or made donations, and hundreds of individual supporters donated new and used items for homeless cats, dogs and even rabbits, Fahr said.
To support the campaign, email [email protected].
For more information, go to www.lokischristmaswish.ca.
