Lauren Ash Speaks Out in Support of HSHPE’s Capital Campaign

Actor, comedian and Belleville native Lauren Ash is calling upon animal lovers to support her hometown animal shelter’s Last Mile Campaign.

Humane Society Hastings Prince Edward released a video of Ash today, recorded from her home in Los Angeles, calling upon animal lovers to support the Last Mile Capital Campaign, which aims to raise the final $1 million needed for the new Animal Care and Community Education Centre at 34 Wallbridge-Loyalist Road.

“When Humane Society Hastings Prince Edward reached out to me, I was very excited to help… Animals, like Peaches here, give us so much and never ask for anything in return so I am more than happy to ask on their behalf,” says Ash in the video, which she filmed with Peaches, one of her rescue dogs.

A devoted dog and cat “mom” and pet adoption advocate, Ash is best known for her role as Dina in the NBC sitcom Superstore. She was also a long-standing member of the comedy troupe Second City’s Toronto and Chicago mainstages.

Ash was born and raised in Belleville and was a visitor to the HSHPE’s shelter on Avonlough Road with her mother. She has become a well-known supporter and advocate for sheltered animals and was, most recently, the spokesperson for The Best Friends Animal Society based in Los Angeles, New York, Atlantic City and Salt Lake City.

“We are delighted, honoured and grateful to have Lauren join our efforts to encourage everyone to support the new Centre,” commented Greg Sudds, Chair of the It Takes Heart Campaign. “As we all know, the last mile is always the hardest, and we will need everyone to help us reach our $6 million goal.”

Although animals and caregivers have moved into the new Centre, HSHPE still has $1 million to raise to furnish the shelter and repay loans from the cities of Belleville and Quinte West. The loans were provided in response to the urgent need to rehouse the animals due to the deteriorating state of the shelter building on Avonlough Road.