On April 11th in Caledon, our Town received a Better Cities for Pets certification through the Mars Petcare program. “The BETTER CITIES FOR PETS
program helps cities be pet-friendly so more people can enjoy the benefits of a life with pets.
It was created by Mars Petcare and includes a playbook for cities, an assessment tool, a city certification program, and free online resources. Daniel Calderoni, General Manager of Mars Pet Nutrition Canada, presented the certification to Town staff and Members of Town Council at the Caledon Animal Shelter.
Rather than interview the human representatives from business and government attending the event, I thought it would be more meaningful to get a pet’s perspective on better cities for pets.
The following is an excerpt of my interview with Sadie, a two year old Australian Shepherd, who witnessed the ceremony.
“Thank you for this opportunity, Skid. It’s rare to meet a human who speaks fluent canine. Do you have another one of those dried liver treats? So, better cities for pets really starts with responsible pet ownership. We need food, water, walks, play, and lots of love. My human, Jenna, is a fast learner. I have her almost completely trained. But some humans? Look, how long does it take for someone to realize that after you eat and drink, you have to, you know, do your business. One of my pet peeves? Poop bags.
The human is supposed to gather up your doo-doo in the poop bag and dispose of it in a garbage receptacle. For some reason, they get tossed along the edge of sidewalks and trails, or onto parkland. Hey, humans are supposed to be the intelligent species, eh. The job’s not done until the poop is scooped, bagged, and in the can!
Also, healthy pets, healthy people – we need to walk a lot. Which means we need places to play and run. The good news is that Caledon is getting a new dog park out in Mayfield West. We want more. You told me earlier that you have a Border Collie who gets six walks a day. Loves to run. Probably wants a world class off-leash dog park right here in the village of Bolton. Something like the Beautiful Joe Park in Meaford. Trees for shade, grass, waterfront, lots of safe fenced in space. He’s not barking up the wrong tree with that request.
Any more of those liver treats? Thanks. So, life is good if you have a loving home, a responsible human, and a safe park. But Jenna tells me there are lots of pets that aren’t so lucky. That’s why an Animal Shelter program is part of the certification. There’s a lot of whining going on about pets that were picked up during the human pandemic and now find themselves homeless. Hey, we were happy to give you our unconditional love and companionship during your quarantine. Now earn it. Pet love is a commitment for the rest of our lives.
I also heard some howling that Caledon businesses are stepping up too. The Town now has a list of pet-friendly businesses on its website – hotels, restaurants, stores. We are sure a lot happier when we are out with you and not home alone. That about covers it, Skid. Homes, parks, shelters and businesses working together responsibly to create a better Caledon for pets. Sounds good to me. Now, how about one last liver treat?”
For more details on the Better Cities for Pets Program, visit the Mars Incorporated website at:
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Learn more about the dog-friendly Beautiful Joe Park in Meaford
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