OVC Pet Trust

Let’s reach beyond the bluest skies, to the brightest stars, on behalf of the University of Guelph’s Smiling Blue Skies Cancer Fund.

The University of Guelph’s Pet Trust, is a fund devoted to providing financial assistance for the advancement of health, health care, and quality of life, for companion animals. More than 120 studies into naturally occurring diseases affecting companion animals, have been carried out with Pet Trust funds. OVC Pet Trust is overseen by an independent Board of Trustees, and is administered by the Dean of the Ontario Veterinary College (OVC). To date, Pet Trust funds have been used for many special projects, including, investigations into common health problems, the development of new diagnostics and therapeutic techniques, studies involving the human-animal bond and animal behaviour, and the upgrading of the Small Animal Clinic’s Intensive Care Unit. Receipts for tax credit purposes, are issued for all contributions to OVC’s programmes, under the University of Guelph’s charitable status number.

Cancer is the most frequent cause of death in dogs. This is a truly frightening thought. In an independent survey conducted by the Golden Retriever Club of America, it was determined that over sixty per cent of Goldens die from cancer. As one breeder pointed out, if you have Golden Retrievers, you have had, have now, or will have a Golden with cancer. It is a burden that we all share. In loving our dogs, whether pure breeds or mixed breeds, we want the very best for them, in health, and in sickness.

Every dollar donated to The Smiling Blue Skies Cancer Fund supports OVC’s quest to find more and better ways to deal with and understand this terrible disease. Pet Trust’s aim is to spend as much money as possible each year, so that they are having the maximum impact and doing the most work possible. We have been told, that in sharing Blues’ story, we have helped to raise awareness of Pet Trust and OVC’s fight against cancer. Thanks to you, we are making a difference.

It has been said, that if we could hang all of our sorrows on pegs, and were allowed to choose those we liked best, every one of us would take back their own, for all the rest would seem even more difficult to bear. Please help us to help our animal companions, and change the punch line of the cruel joke we call Cancer.

The Smiling Blue Skies Cancer Fund is in loving memory of our beautiful Blues Man, who taught us the true meaning of being a show dog. He showed us how to live, love, laugh, and learn.

Make a Donation

On-Line Donation Form

If you encounter any problems making a donation and/or have questions, please send a note to suzib@smilingblueskies.com.

Thank you so much for your support.

OR

Mail Your Donation

The Smiling Blue Skies Cancer Fund

Attention: Karen Tomchick
Alumni Affairs and Development Department
OVC Pet Trust
c/o Alumni House
University of Guelph
Guelph ON N1G 2W1

Please make sure to clearly indicate on your cheque, that your donation is for The Smiling Blue Skies Cancer Fund. VISA and MasterCard are also accepted, and there is the additional option of setting up a monthly bank account debit or monthly credit card charge for up to one year.

If you would like to honour someone and/or a companion animal, by making a donation to The Smiling Blue Skies Cancer Fund, please send your donation, along with information about the receiving individual or family (in whose honour or memory the donation is being made, your name and address, and the address of the receiving individual or family).

All donations will be acknowledged by a receipt for tax credit purposes and a very special limited edition card, with inscription.

Kim Robinson
Senior Advisor, External Relations
Ontario Veterinary College (OVC)
University of Guelph
519-212-1461
krobin01@uoguelph.ca

Karen Tomchick;
(519) 824-4120; Extension 54431
pettrust@ovc.uoguelph.ca

Katherine Galley
Director, Marketing and Communications
Ontario Veterinary College
University of Guelph
905-599-9400
kgalley@uoguelph.ca

Legacy Donations

Some people choose to include a gift in their will to the organizations that mean the most to them.  To include Smiling Blue Skies in your estate plans, we have created sample bequest wording so you can easily share it with your lawyer. Please contact Jayne Whitfield, Senior Manager, Legacy Giving at 519-824-4120 ext 56196 or whitfiej@uoguelph.ca for more information. Jayne would be delighted to discuss creating a meaningful legacy for you and have the opportunity to thank you for considering this type of donation.”

Jayne Whitfield: Contact for Legacy Donations

In the Media

Awards

Awards & honours Suzi Beber has received since the founding of The Smiling Blue Skies Cancer Fund:

Golden Retriever Club of Canada Silmaril Kennel Trophy for the Human/Animal Bond (twice)

Golden Retriever Club of British Columbia Christopher R. Burton Memorial Award for Contributions to the GRCBC and the Betterment of the Golden Retriever

Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal

Doctor of Laws, Honouris Causa, University of Guelph

Suzi Beber Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Oncology Award, University of Guelph

Pets + Us Canada Community Outreach Champion Award

Suzi Beber’s Convocation Ceremony

Thursday February 18th, 2016