A donation and challenge is helping Genny Gudjonson feel better about the death of her 14-year-old lab rottweiler cross, Duke.
Duke was like her kid, she said, so after seeing a photograph in the Weekend Advisor depicting Save-On-Foods donating gift cards to the BC SPCA, she decided she would buy $200 in gift cards from Walmart and challenge Walmart across Canada to match and donate to their local SPCA.
“I thought wow, the SPCA needs stuff,” Gudjonson said. “This would be a great way to honour my dog because he’s no longer here.”
Having fun being competitive, she decided to beat Save-On’s donation and “shame” Walmart to do the same.
When she inquired at Walmart with the assistant manager she was told to write a letter outlining her challenge and fill out a form asking for the donation.
Liz Dighton, the branch manager at the BCSPCA Williams Lake and District Branch, said Gudjonson’s donation was a bright spot in a very busy day.
“She phoned out of the blue and asked if her donation would work and we said great. Gift cards from the store of people’s choices are always fantastic.”
Branch staff do eight to 10 loads of laundry a day, and use a ton of cleaning supplies. They need pet salt for our sidewalks, even sheets because “puppies are eating and pooping machines. We also go through a lot of pellets.”
The branch needs things that people probably don’t think to donate, Dighton said.
“We have the list of things we need on our Facebook page,” she added.
“Cash is always good too because our hydro bills are high this time of year.”
Supporters of the SPCA can also look forward to the annual Pet Photos with Santa coming up this weekend.
The event is an SPCA fundraiser put on by the Williams Lake Veterinary Hospital and will be held from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. at 306 North Broadway Ave. Saturday.
The suggested donation is $15 for the first 5x7 and $10 each for additional copies.
Participants are asked to enter through the back door.
Photography for Pet Photos with Santa is being donated by AboutFace Photography.