We get it: not everyone likes to be surrounded by all of their family and friends at the same time. Don’t worry though! You can still fundraise to help feed the animals at Calgary Humane Society as part of our Party with a Purpose event. We’ve come up with 5 “party” ideas for introverts or people who don’t like to party.

1. Hold a Bottle Drive

Ask your friends and family to gather all of their recyclable bottles and drop them off at your house. Once you’ve taken them to the bottle depot, you can donate your earnings to Calgary Humane Society as part of Party with a Purpose. Alternatively, ask your friends to take their own bottles in – even less work for you! – and contribute their bottle money on your Party with a Purpose web page.

2. Complete a Challenge

Do you love running or riding your bike? Set yourself a new challenge and ask friends to pledge money based on your distance or for completion of your challenge.

3. Have a Potluck with Co-Workers

Doing a potluck at work means there’s no pressure on you to be the perfect host or entertain your guests. To attend the potluck, everyone must bring a dish and make a donation to your Party with a Purpose. Don’t want to eat with your colleagues? No problem – just go back to your desk!

4. Walk a Dog

Invite friends and family members to donate to your Party with a Purpose in exchange for taking their dog for a walk.

5. Give Something Up or Start Something New

Party with a Purpose is now a month-long event, so it’s the perfect length of time to commit to getting rid of an old habit or starting a new one. Want to give up chocolate or pop? Encourage yourself to go to the gym five days per week? Ask your friends and family to join you with their own commitment, and donate a dollar or two for each successful day. At the end of the month, you’ll not only have kicked/created a habit but also helped the animals as well!

…last but not least, email your friends and family the link to your Party with a Purpose fundraising web page and ask them to donate towards food for all of our furry and scaly friends. No party necessary!

Heat stroke can happen to our furry friends in under 10 minutes. Dogs can’t sweat like humans, so they cannot effectively cool off their bodies if left in a hot car.

If you see a dog in a car on a warm day (even a comfortable outside temperature can become sweltering in an enclosed space like a vehicle), here’s what you should do:

1. Quickly record the time of day, temperature, your location, license plate number, make/model of the car and a brief description of the dog. You can take photos with your cell phone or take notes. You will need this information to pass on to Calgary Police Service (CPS) or Calgary Humane Society (CHS).
2. A dog in a hot car is a dog in distress. The longer it stays in the car, the hotter the internal temperature will get. Immediately call CPS or CHS to file a report.
3. If the owner returns before you can complete your call or before CPS or CHS arrive, it is still important to ensure the information you noted in step 1 is received by CPS or CHS. CPS or CHS will follow up and educate the dog’s owner on the dangers of leaving their dog in a hot car and check to ensure that the dog is okay.

We are all responsible for helping animals in distress. Pass this message on to people who may not realize how dangerous it is to leave their dog in their vehicle. Tell your friends what to do if they see a dog in a hot car. Spread the word!