About Us
How VPN began
Virden Pet Network was formed in 2007 by Virden neighbors Heather Reimer (far right) and Bev Bailey (2nd from right) who were troubled by the high number of stray cats in town.
They were joined a few years later by rescue manager Kathy Heaman (behind Bev) and fundraising manager Margaret James (far left).
Friends, co-volunteers, and animal lovers forever!
Our Board of Directors:
Heather Reimer; Bev Bailey; Kathy Heaman
Virden Pet Network became a registered charity under the Canada Revenue Agency in 2008. This meant we became a sanctioned non profit accountable to the federal government and we could then provide tax receipts to donors.
For fifteen years, our executive committee worked together as a tight unit, getting things done with no fuss, no long meetings, no politics... just getting it done. Our first big change came in 2023, when adoptions manager Kathy Heaman decided to take a well deserved break from rescue.
We are thrilled to welcome long-time foster parents Alicia Gooden to the role of foster manager and Erin Dyck as adoptions manager.
Our board of three (Kathy is staying on the board!) welcomes new volunteers to join us and help end the problem of homeless pets.
Our CRA Charitable Registration Number: 83840 8821 RR0001
Our Mission
Our mission is to help our community in southwestern Manitoba address the problem of feline overpopulation by taking stray cats and kittens into our care, placing them in temporary foster homes, having them treated for emergent conditions, vaccinating and altering, and adopting them into responsible homes. Also to conduct humane education in the community and provide programs to help prevent unwanted litters and provide a better quality of life for companion animals.
Accomplishments
1. Low Cost Spay Neuter program. A collaboration with Virden Animal Hospital to share the costs of spay-neuter surgeries for dogs and cats owned by limited income individuals and families.
2. Barn Buddies program. Stray cats unsuitable as house pets are altered, vaccinated and offered at a reduced adoption fee to live as farm cats.
3. Alliance with Town of Virden Animal Control to prevent euthanasia of unclaimed animals at the pound by taking them into our care, rehabilitating, providing vet care including spay-neuter, and rehoming.
4. Reducing the incidence of viral feline diseases FIV and FelV in the region by taking infected strays off the streets, providing the vet care they need, and placing them with owners/fosters who understand their special health needs.
5. Free lost and found pet listings on social media resulting in hundreds of pets being reunited with their families.