Local lawyer fundraising for Sault Ste. Marie Humane Society

Sault Ste. Marie residents will have a unique opportunity in April to support animal welfare while taking care of important family matters.

Kendall Barban, a lawyer at Barban Law, is partnering with the Sault Ste. Marie Humane Society for a month-long fundraising initiative.

For every will and power of attorney appointment booked next month, Barban will donate half of the appointment fee directly to the Humane Society.

“The Humane Society is a wonderful organization that does incredibly important work in our community,” Barban said.

“They rely heavily on donations to provide care, shelter and medical treatment for animals in need, and I wanted to find a way to support that mission.”

The timing of the fundraiser is strategic, as spring typically sees an increase in animal intake at the shelter.

“I felt this was the perfect time to provide extra assistance,” Barban said.

Clients have options for how their donations are processed. They can either write a cheque directly to the Humane Society or make the donation through Barban’s firm.

If done through the firm, Barban will forward the funds and ensure clients receive proper tax receipt information.

The standard fee for Barban's services is $350 for a single person’s will and power of attorney package, and $500 for couples. Half of these fees will be donated.

While Barban hasn’t set a specific fundraising target, she “would love to contribute as much as possible, every dollar raised will make a difference.”

The initiative serves a dual purpose.

“My primary goal is to support the Humane Society,” Barban said.

“I’m also hoping to raise awareness about the importance of making provisions for your pets in your will,” she said.

Including pets in your will is often something people overlook. The Humane Society sees the impact of those situations.

"How that impacts us is we actually end up with a lot of animals coming into the shelter that have come because their owner passed away and there's no plan in place," Johnston said. 

“I’d like to help clients plan for all members of their family, including the four-legged ones,” Barban said.

This initiative marks Barban's first fundraiser of this kind. If it goes well, she plans on doing more in the future.

Abbi Johnston, communications, marketing and events coordinator for the Humane Society, expressed gratitude for the initiative. 

"Kendall reaching out and offering to do this and donating 50 per cent of the profit is huge," she said. 

"That's a very kind thing that she's chosen to do for us."

This planning can be crucial for pets' well-being.

"They've already been through a lot of stressful change and it's a pretty big shock for them, so it can be a difficult situation for the pets too," Johnston said. 

For more information or to book an appointment, contact Barban at (226) 821-0141 or kendallbarbanlaw@gmail.com.

To learn more about the Sault Ste. Marie Humane Society, visit their website.