Calgary purple poppy campaign supports vets caring for pets

The Calgary Veterans Association Food Bank’s purple poppy initiative aims to support veterans who need help caring for their animals.

The Pet Promise Program raises funds ahead of Remembrance Day through the Purple Poppies campaign. Supporters can buy one of the poppies hand-made by volunteers for their pets to wear.

The purple poppy symbolizes the loss of life for service animals in wars and conflicts.

Many veterans struggle to pay, never mind afford the costs, of caring for a pet.

About 30 to 40 veterans regularly rely on the program to care for their pets. Many reach out when they need help covering the cost of everything from vet bills to food and other related expenses.

Marie Blackburn, the Calgary Veterans Association executive director, says a purple crocheted poppy she made for her dog began the now-popular program.

It started years ago after a man approached her with an unusual request.

She says the man asked her to give his dog a haircut, to which she replied she couldn’t but to take him to the groomer. When he said he couldn’t, she inquired further. She learned he didn’t have a shot and asked why not.

“And the look on his face was the most devasting thing I had seen,” Blackburn said.

“It was like he thought I was judging him for being the worst pet owner on the planet because he wasn’t doing the basics for this little dog.”

She says she covered the cost for the man to take care of his pet. And that exchange started something really great.

“I’m telling some of my coworkers that we need to come up with something, so we came up with the Pet Promise Program,” she said.

Every year, volunteers create poppies to raise funds for the initiative which helps veterans needing assistance with their pets.

And it adds up.

Last year, Blackburn figures they raised about $15,000 for the Pet Promise Program.

While it often goes towards vet bills or food, other times it can be a way for a veteran to say a proper farewell to their pet.

“Well we started it, we had three people come to us and say, ‘Oh, thank god you’re here, we can finally put our little dog down. We’ve been waiting for so long for him to die,'” she said.

“And we always make sure they get the paw prints and the ashes, just like you and I would do with our own pets.”

She says sometimes people rely on the program to buy pet food and other times for vet care.

“For every person that has utilized the Pet Promise Program, there is a pretty heartwarming story attached to every single one of them,” Blackburn said.

The program recently got a boost from Spruce Meadows Leg Up Foundation which donated a little more than $200,000 to the association to help the pet program and also offer substantial support for veterans struggling with daily expenses and keeping a roof over their heads.

Purple poppies sell for $10 each. You can find them at Sunridge or Marlborough Mall or you can reach out to the association to get one.