Winnipeg has seen a record number of animal seizures from homes this summer, including just last week when 130 dogs were taken from a residence. The Winnipeg Humane Society has called this an ongoing crisis. Thursday marks International Cat Day, and over at – affiliated with pet shelter, D’Arcy’s Animal Rescue Centre, or D’Arcy’s A.
R.C. and one of three cat cafés in Winnipeg – they’re hoping to get their last two kittens adopted to make room for more animals next week and help relieve shelters that are at capacity.
“We are operated from no government funding, so it’s been an interesting journey,” said Kayla Parkinson, manager of Annie’s Attic which opened in January 2021. Parkinson says Annie’s Attic owner D’Arcy Johnston is passionate about thrifting — he owns a thrift store and D’Arcy’s A.R.
C. She says Johnston also wanted to bring a cat café to Winnipeg’s North End. “He wanted to open a second thrift store, but he also had the passion for wanting a cat café so we decided to combine the two into one,” said Parkinson.
“Anything you buy from the cafe, the thrift shop, all the proceeds go to the homeless animals.” The shop’s café offers coffee and drinks, as well as baked goods from local bakeries including Goodies Bake Shop and Gunn’s Bakery. On the thrifting side, Parkinson says they do their best to try and keep prices on the lower end, so they can also support the North End community looking for items.
Off to the side i.