The spirit of giving has gone to the dogs in Bragg Creek this holiday season.
Elizabeth Fermor, owner of The Best Little Wordhouse in the West, a used books and gift store located in the Bragg Creek Shopping Centre, has been accepting donations of dry dog food on behalf of the project Dogs with No Names since Dec. 1.
Fermor said Bragg Creek veterinarian Judith Samson-French, who heads the initiative, and her team of volunteers are helping to reduce the population of unwanted puppies in First Nations communities by implanting female feral dogs with contraceptive implants.
“They also bring in food to feed the hungry dogs,” said Fermor. “This project is very meaningful.”
Fermor said she became involved with this program to help feed hungry dogs in Bragg Creek and surrounding areas.
“I love dogs and hosting this food drive was a way to contribute back to the doggy community,” she said.
Fermor used to volunteer and foster dogs for Calgary’s Animal Rescue Foundation, and adopted her 10-year-old shepherd cross, Bruno, through the organization.
On the front window of her store, above the dog food donation bin, sits a photo collage that displays pictures of dogs.
“I call it my Doggy Christmas Tree,” she said.
When people donate dog food they can put their pet’s photo or their family’s name on the Doggy Christmas Tree.
Fermor proudly displayed her dog Bruno’s photo as the star on top of the tree.
She said she has wanted to make a doggy Christmas tree as a fundraiser for an animal rescue organization for several years, but did not know which one to chose.
When she learned about this project she decided to support it.
Fermor is accepting donations of dog food for the entire month of December.
“I hope this food drive will be well received by the community,” said Fermor.
In 2008, Fermor relocated her used book store from 17th Avenue SW Calgary to the Bragg Creek Shopping Centre.
“I have been here four years and feel that with all the support I’ve received from this community I wanted to do something to give back,” she said. “People here have been so kind.”
The book Dogs with No Names: In Pursuit of Courage, Hope, and Purpose was written by Judith Samson-French and is available at the Best Little Wordhouse in the West.
All profits from the book go towards funding the project.
For more information go to dogswithnonames.ca.
