Nova Scotia SPCA raising funds through Chase the Ace

This past winter, the Nova Scotia SPCA started Chase the Ace as a way of generating revenue to help support its work, and while the effort has been successful, the re- sponse in Yarmouth hasn’t been as strong as it has been in other parts of the province.

The organization hopes some changes – including having Chase the Ace tickets available in more places locally – will bolster the initiative here.

Besides the SPCA’s Yarmouth shelter at 298 Hardscratch Rd., there are now eight other ticketselling sites: seven in Yarmouth, one in Liverpool.

“You don’t have to go to the shelter to pick up tickets,” said Emily Dobson, provincial fund development co-ordinator with the Nova Scotia SPCA.

“You can go to various locations within the Yarmouth area.”

Another change is weekly Chase the Ace draws are held Tuesdays at the Hardcratch Road shelter at 3:45 p.m. rather than Saturdays.

Fundraising – as well as raising awareness – is very important for the Nova Scotia SPCA, Dobson says, noting the organization provides shelter, medical care, rehabilitation, spay-and-neuter services and re-homing opportunities for thousands of abused, neglected, injured or abandoned animals every year.

“We rely heavily on communities for support for the various programs we run,” she said. “Our shelters do not receive government funding, so we rely on community support to run our programs and to make sure our doors stay open.”

Given the SPCA’s need for funds and the immense popularity of Chase the Ace as a fundraiser for many groups, she said, bringing the SPCA and Chase the Ace together “is a perfect fit.”

Ticket locations

The following are ticket-selling locations for the SPCA’s Chase the Ace fundraiser in Yarmouth:

Yarmouth Mall, 76 Starrs Rd. – second and last Wednesday of every month from 1 to 5 p.m.

Pharmasave, 333 Main St., Yarmouth, NS – Every Friday from 1 to 5 p.m.

SPCA Queens Thrift Store, 7 Gorham St., Liverpool – Monday and Wednesday from 1 to 3 p.m.

Gator Byte, 316 Main St., Yarmouth - Wednesday to Monday during regular business hours, finishing Mondays at 3 p.m.

Coast to Coast, 76 Starrs Rd., Yarmouth - Wednesday to Monday during regular business hours, finishing Mondays at 3 p.m.

Yarmouth Red Knight, 73 Starrs Rd. – Wednesday to Monday during regular business hours, finishing Mondays at 3 p.m.

Yarmouth Pub, 95 Water St. – Wednesday to Monday during regular business hours, finishing Mondays at 3 p.m.

Boston Pizza, 134 Starrs Rd., Yarmouth – Wednesday to Monday during regular business hours, finishing Mondays at 3 p.m. Proceeds from the SPCA’s Chase the Ace help support the work the organization does.