Brother, sister spread Good Will to help animals in crisis

The high cost of living is taking a devastating toll on dogs, cats and other animals.

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“It’s the worst year we’ve ever seen in rescue,” said Kristi Finch whose children started a rescue operation called Good Will Good Karma at their Mount Pleasant home six years ago.

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“Dogs and cats are being dumped on rural roads and forested areas. People are moving to nursing homes and palliative care and to different provinces and leaving pets in apartments until neighbors hear them crying.

“A lot of it has to do with affordability. People are feeling like they can’t afford food and vet care.”

Will Finch and his sister Jada’s mission to rescue animals began with a puppy named Karma. The mixed-breed rescue was the first dog for Will, who was then seven. Just a few weeks later, he died of canine parvo, a contagious virus with a high mortality rate.

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For his eighth birthday, Will asked for donations to help animals instead of gifts for himself. It was the beginning of what has become a calling for the teen who is in Grade 8 at Mt. Pleasant Public School.

“When Karma died, I really felt I was missing something,” said Will. “The feeling I got when an animal got a new life just made me want to continue. I can never stop.”

With help from parents, Kristi and Dan, Will and Jada launched Good Will Good Karma to raise awareness and gather supplies and funds to donate to rescue animals across Canada. They’ve helped hundreds of dogs and cats and figure they’ve collected about $750,000 in monetary donations and animal supplies.

The brother-and-sister team are now determined to raise $14,000 by Jan. 10 – Will’s 14th birthday – through the sale of calendars that feature artist renderings of animals rescued by Good Will Good Karma this year. The artwork, hand-drawn and donated by Midland-based Bill Stephens, is accompanied by heartwarming stories including those about “Goldie,” a puppy found roaming without food or shelter in Nunavut, and “Devlin,” a sick pup tied to a short chain in remote northern Manitoba. He’s named in honor of Mount Pleasant restaurateur Ryan Devlin who covered the cost of the dog’s flight to Ontario and vet bills.

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Will wants to split proceeds from the calendar sales among the 12 animal rescues – they call them paw-rtners – supported by Good Will Good Karma.

“Rescues can’t make time to fundraise they’re so busy with emergency calls,” said Kristi. “They’re all at capacity. They reach out to us and we call all the partner rescues to see who can help.”

Good Will Good Karma has a foster room and Will has been known to miss a bit of school to bottle feed kittens and help care for other homeless animals. When dogs and cats have spent a long time up for adoption, he creates social media profiles that often go viral to help find them homes. He has also been a “flight angel,” flying out and bringing back puppies from Manitoba that will find a home here.

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“What makes us different is we always provide updates on the animals so people can see how their donation changed the life of an animal, and even the humans,” said Kristi.

Good Will Good Karma also collects supplies and will gratefully accept donations of kitten and cat food and treats; litter; puppy and dog food and treats; cat and dog toys; pee pads; wipes; and cleaning supplies.

The Art of Rescue 2024 calendars, which are $20, or $25, including shipping, can be purchased via etransfer to [email protected] with the password calendar. The calendars are also available at Devlin’s Country Bistro in Mount Pleasant, Mt. Pleasant Public School, and Ruffin’s Pet Centers, 320 Colborne St. West.

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