Last year's Pack the Pickup event brought in a haul of donations for the SPCA. (Submitted Photo/Pet Planet Prince Albert)

By Rob Mahon

SPCA Pack Pickup

SPCA eagerly anticipating pack the pickup event at Raiders game

Nov 18, 2022 | 3:00 PM

The next home game for the Prince Albert Raiders is more than an opportunity for them to continue an on-ice winning streak. They also have a chance at a big off-ice win with their Pack the Pickup event in support of the Prince Albert SPCA.

“It’s overwhelming that we have this much support in our community,” said Laura Goodwin, adoptions manager at the SPCA. “It’s a great community to have this facility in because we get so much support. It’s pretty exciting that it’s at a Raider game, so there will be lots of attention.”

To help draw even more attention, Goodwin said they’ll be stopping by the rink with some SPCA alumni. Some of the most enthusiastic responses to the animals might come from the players themselves, judging by the reaction they had to their SPCA visit earlier in the week.

“They love animals, they’re teenage boys, and the animals absolutely love them,” Goodwin said. “They were drawn to the kitten rooms and then I brought the dog out. The dog went wild when he saw them.”

“Our players were like little kids playing with them,” added Cliff Mapes, Raiders executive director of business operations. “I love the SPCA and what they do. I think the adoption program went really well during COVID and a lot of people found lifelong friends in those adoptions.”

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In addition to the Raiders, Mann Northway GM and Pet Planet are also part of the effort to raise money and supplies for the SPCA. Supporting the local shelter truly has become a community-wide effort.

“It just forms a great team working toward one great goal: helping the SPCA,” Mapes said. “I’m really fortunate to be part of it. The hockey team really uses our season ticket holders to support this event, and our fans have got to be the best in the league.”

As is almost always the case, the SPCA is looking for cleaning supplies and cat food as well as kitty litter during this event. Cats are the one animal they can just about rely on being at or over capacity for.

“People tend to let their cats roam in the city and they think it’s ok but it’s not,” Goodwin said. “All of a sudden, they have a pregnant female and she ends up at the shelter as one kitty becomes ten kitties in a very short time.”

Goodwin added last year the event brought in a lot of donations for them, so they’re hopeful this year the support will be just as high.

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rob.mahon@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @RobMahonPxP