Lending a paw

Tricia Daley knows how to make TJ purr

Picton pet food store among top fundraisers in Canada

Lining the walls of Pet Valu store in Picton are hundreds of paws—each an emblem of a donation or contribution to its annual fundraising campaign in aid of local animals in need. The Picton pet food and supply store is very good at fundraising. Last year, the store generated more than $8,800 for local shelters and animal protection—third highest of all Pet Valu stores in Canada.

“It’s amazing,” says store owner Tricia Daley. “We didn’t expect it at all. We didn’t do anything big. But we beat a lot of large stores. We just have wonderful customers.”

That was last year. Tricia is aiming to outdo herself in 2014.

The month-long campaign once again will feature paws prominently—for donations of a dollar to $10, contributors receive their name on a paw that is fixed to the wall of the Picton store. The campaign will also feature traditional events such as a cupcake sale and silent auction.

New for 2014, the store featured a nail clipping clinic, with all proceeds going to the campaign. Next Saturday, a pet photographer will be in the store to take professiona portraits of her customer’s animals.

All proceeds from this campaign, and past events, go to the Loyalist Humane Society and Canine Control.

But how does a small town store beat out nearly 500 other Pet Valu stores?

Tricia is sticking to her story that it is all about the generosity of her customers. Yet she admits there may be some tenacity in her make up. She is clearly driven by a challenge and is very much goal oriented. Her store has expanded three times since moving to the Main Street location.

“We were kind of like a dog with a bone,” admits Tricia.

She says the pressure is on to outperform last year’s achievement. She has her eyes set on being number one. The beneficiaries are the animals— stray and abandoned—in the County. The task of caring for these animals falls to the Loyalist Humane Society and to Canine Control. Without these funds, the future for these creatures is grim.

“It is because of the kindness of our customers that we can help in this way,” said Tricia.

On Saturday, the Picton Pet Valu is celebrating National Adoption Weekend ,featuring a variety of animals from the Loyalist Humane Society in the store.

Stop by and leave your paw print on the wall.