Deanna Guignard of Kippens really enjoys helping animals and with some supporters is providing a service to help stray animals find homes.
“It really pleases me when I’ve saved a life and I know that they’re gone to a good home,” she said of the cats and dogs she has helped.
Ms. Guignard has been helping out pets all her life. Ever since she was a kid she was bringing home strays, much to the chagrin of her parents at times.
“When I was growing up, if a cat or dog would follow me home then I’d take it in.”
Today is not much different. If she finds a stray or someone brings one to her attention, she will take the animal in and train, feed and shelter it.
She will try to find its owner and return it, but if the owner doesn’t come forward she and a couple of friends who help out will get the animal spayed or neutered – and find it a new home.
During the past three years they have helped out more than 20 animals. She has three dogs of her own that were all adopted – Pepper, a Yorkshire terrier; Shelby, a silky terrier; and Jack, a border collie.
Ms. Guignard usually takes in dogs. However, there are a number of foster families that work with her to help both dogs and cats that are abandoned.
“Eileen White’s a great help in this and she fosters both dogs and feral cats right in her backyard,” she said.
Rearing and breeding
At one point in her life, Ms. Guignard used to breed and sell Siamese cats and chinchillas. She had an assortment of pets during the years, from ferrets, laboratory rats, hamsters, fish, pet birds to a chameleon.
“I learned a lot from rearing animals and especially from breeding them. Growing up I researched everything I could find out about helping animals,” she said.
“It really pleases me when I’ve saved a life and I know that they’re gone to a good home.” - Deanna Guignard
While Jack, her border collie, was adopted from the Bay St. George Society for the Care and Protection of Animals, she said she’s not a supporter of that organization.
“I don’t agree with their standards because of their no-kill policy. It’s difficult to adopt out a dog or cat that’s not properly trained for a homeowner,” Ms. Guignard said.
She said because of their no-kill policy, a nice animal that someone would like to adopt couldn’t be taken in because they’re always full.
Ms. Guignard said it’s her goal to eventually establish her shelter to serve Bay St. George, which is the area she said she’s serving right now.
She uses Facebook and classified ads to advertise the animals she has fostered out and said she’s having an excellent success rate with finding them homes. She said there is a photo album on Facebook with her name that is open to everyone.
“People call me with an abandoned animal they’re taking care of and I’ll do what I can to find a home for the animal,” Ms. Guignard said.
Just recently she was awarded a Pepsi Refresh Project grant of $5,000 to help out with the service she’s providing, which she entitled, Help Care for Homeless Pets in My Home.
She said up to that time everything was coming out of the pockets of her and her supporters – and this helps out with the costs and gives her a good feeling about what she’s doing.
reporter thegeorgian.ca
