Adopt a zoo animal for Mother’s Day
Gift shopping is tricky during COVID-19, so here’s an alternative
Looking for a something to give your mom for a Mother’s Day gift this year when stores and restaurants are closed and shopping and going out for a meal are definitely off the list? Consider Riverview Park and Zoo’s Adopt-an-Animal program, where for a specified donation, you can adopt one of the animals at the zoo in your mother’s name.
Mom gets a warm feeling knowing that you remembered her on Mother’s Day, you get the satisfaction that goes with community giving, and the animal benefits in several ways from the donation. The adoption fees go toward specialized animal care, nutrition programs, added enrichment and training, veterinary health care, as well as important research and conservation for the animal you adopt.
When you make the adoption in your mom’s name, she will receive an individualized adoption certificate, a fact sheet about the animal you selected and a high-quality photo of the animal. All animal adoptions are also recognized within the Park and Zoo on the adoption board at the front of the zoo.
Annual adoption fees range from $100 to $300 depending on the animal selected and its needs. A pot-bellied pig, Burmese python, tortoise, emu, or macaw can be adopted for $100 each, while a Bactrian camel or Sichuan takin cost $300 each. At an amount in between, there are reindeer, servals, Barbary sheep, yaks, capybara, dwarf crocodiles, lemurs, wallabies, squirrel monkeys, two-toed sloth, meerkats and the river otters. Tax receipts are provided for each adoption.
The adoption can be made online at riverviewparkandzoo.ca. Find the Adopt-an-Animal link under the Support Us tab. From there, click on the blue Adopt an Animal button and then simply click on the photo of the animal you wish to adopt and follow the prompts. The adoption package will be sent to you via email. Adoptions can also be made by emailing riverviewparkandzoo@peterboroughutilities.ca. Further information is also available on the website or through the above email address.
Not in the market for a Mother’s Day gift? Adoptions are open year-round to any interested individual. They also make a great project for families or groups to do together.
Help for kittens
The Peterborough Humane Society has launched their Fur the Love of Moms fundraising campaign just in time for Mother’s Day. The fundraiser hopes to collect $10,000 in 10 days to help kittens in need.
“We are heading into what we call kitten season here at the shelter and will be taking in hundreds of kittens and pregnant cats in the next few months,” said Shawn Morey, executive director, Peterborough Humane Society. “These animals all require longer and special care to ensure that they grow up healthy and strong before moving up for adoption.”
Last year, the shelter took in more than 150 kittens during kitten season and expects to do the same this year.
Here’s how your donation will help: $25 buys a week’s worth of canned food for a mom with four kittens, $50 will feed a newborn kitten for three weeks, and $115 will spay or neuter one kitten and get them adoption ready. You can make a one-time donation, or a weekly donation. Donations can also be made in honour or, or in memory of a special someone.
To make a Fur the Love of Moms donation visit peterboroughhumanesociety.ca/donations/.
The Humane Society also has a wish list online at Amazon where you can select an item(s) to purchase, make your payment, and the purchase will be sent directly to the Society. Just click on the Amazon Wishlist button at the above website.