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Pet Trust, Cancer Centre to Benefit From Woofstock
The Ontario Veterinary College has teamed up with friends and supporters of Woofstock, North America's largest outdoor festival for dogs, to fight canine cancer.
Woofstock has named the OVC Pet Trust Fund as the charity of choice for this year's event, which takes place June 7 and 8 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. in Toronto's historical St. Lawrence Market neighbourhood. Proceeds from the sale of charity dog collars at Woofstock will support Pet Trust's fundraising campaign for Canada's first comprehensive animal cancer centre.
The centre will also receive the proceeds from a Doggie High Tea held on Sunday in Toronto.
“We are deeply thankful for this support from Woofstock,” says Prof. Paul Woods, co-director of U of G's Institute for Comparative Cancer Investigation and a board-certified veterinary oncologist. “Cancer touches everyone, including our furry family members.”
Although pets today are generally living longer, healthier lives, they are prone to developing cancer as they get older — just as humans are, says Woods. “In fact, dogs in particular develop many of the same types of cancer found in people.”
Of the approximately 3.5 million dogs in Canada, it's estimated that up to one in four will develop some form of cancer.
OVC's animal cancer centre will provide comprehensive cancer care for pets while advancing cancer research and training future cancer specialists. It will involve nearly 40 Guelph cancer investigators whose work ranges from the basic biology of cancer to its social and psychological effects.
Pet Trust, which raises funds in support of learning, health care and research at OVC, aims to raise $10 million in support of the centre.
Volunteers are needed to help out at Woofstock as members of Pet Trust's roaming marketing team, selling charity dog collars and distributing brochures. To volunteer or to obtain more information about Pet Trust, contact Andrew Moore at Ext. 54370 or armoore@uoguelph.ca or visit www.pettrust.ca.