The PawsWay Pet Discovery Centre, developed and funded by Purina, will offer permanent and rotating pet-related exhibits year round as well as housing the Hall of Fame's 138 animal members. It opened June 21.
"PawsWay ... will offer our millions of visitors a unique opportunity to experience life from the pet perspective," said William Boyle, CEO of Harbourfront Centre.
Mary Siemiesz is executive director of Purina's PetCare Legacy and long-standing spokesperson for the Purina Animal Hall of Fame. Both the Hall of Fame and the company's support of service dog training programs are part of PetCare Legacy.
"I've been fortunate to meet people who have credited their lives to the heroic acts of their cats and dogs," says Siemiescz.
"Through our work with service animals, many people have been given not only companionship, but a greater independence and freedom than they might otherwise have known," she said. "The Purina PetCare Legacy was born from the special role our pets play everyday and helps us to do more for the pet community — helping more pet lovers and their four-legged friends."
The PawsWay centre, located at 245 Queen's Quay W., "is designed to be a pet friendly and pet accessible venue, focused on encouraging responsible pet ownership, providing pet owners with information and becoming a community resource," says Purina.
The company's research shows that more than 51 per cent of Canadians own a dog or a cat.
jstewart@mississauga.net
