PEI

Humane society 'blown away' by anonymous $1.1M donation

The P.E.I. Humane Society says a $1.1-million gift from an anonymous donor will allow it to achieve its dream of a better animal shelter.

Money will go toward upgrading the Charlottetown animal shelter

Jennifer Harkness, development manager with the P.E.I. Humane Society, says the anonymous donation was one of the largest the humane society has ever received. (Steve Bruce/CBC)

The P.E.I. Humane Society says a $1.1-million gift from an anonymous donor will allow it to achieve its dream of a better animal shelter.

Development manager Jennifer Harkness says this is one of the largest donations the society has ever received.

"I was blown away. It took me days to process that this is actually happening," she said. "Our dream, the big dream that we've been working on … is actually going to be a reality."

The money brings the total capital funds raised to $3,132,109 and completes the society's fundraising goal to finish major renovations at the Charlottetown animal shelter. 

The renovations will include new sick bays, dog kennels, recovery rooms and treatment facilities for sick and injured animals.

A rendering of the new animal shelter in Charlottetown.
The money will go toward major renovations at the Charlottetown animal shelter, shown here in a design by SableArc Studios. (Submitted by P.E.I. Humane Society)

The project is expected to be complete by early 2022. The shelter will have to relocate for a year while the renovations take place.

"Just to know that we can move forward confidently with renovating the shelter and doing what's right for the animals— it's just an amazing feeling," Harkness said.

She said she knows the identity of the donor, but the "humble" family wishes to remain anonymous.

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With files from Nicole Williams