Humane society ditches ‘Lincoln County’ and adopts new name
Lincoln County Humane Society unleashed a new name Wednesday.
The St. Catharines-based animal welfare organization is dropping the antiquated name it has had for at least 96 years and will be known as Humane Society of Greater Niagara.
Executive director Kevin Strooband said the humane society wanted to modernize its name and better convey the area it actually serves, especially since expanding its role to Fort Erie.
A lot of people say, Where's Lincoln County?' So we wanted something that more accurately reflected the area we cover and what we do, because we also provide sheltering for people's pets from across Niagara."
Strooband said the term Lincoln County isn't really used anymore and it was time to let it go."
Lincoln County encompassed the communities in the northern area of Niagara until 1970 when it was amalgamated with Welland County in the south to create Niagara Region.
The Lincoln County Humane Society name dates back to at least March 1927 when it was officially formed, though the organization can trace its roots to 1881.
Apparently, it wasn't in any hurry to change its name with the times.
The regional municipality was formed Jan. 1, 1970, when they abandoned the name Lincoln County. We just did it 53 years later," Strooband said.
The humane society provides service to five municipalities - St. Catharines, Thorold, Grimsby, Niagara-on-the-Lake and Fort Erie.
Strooband said it also has programs to take in pets for individuals escaping from domestic abuse situations and for those experiencing homelessness from across Niagara. Anyone can use its community food bank, making the new name more relevant.
The branding for Humane Society of Greater Niagara includes a website at hsgn.ca and a logo featuring a cat and dog in blue and green silhouetted by a heart that replaces the old paw print in a heart and circle.
As for all the old materials with LCHS logos, they will be put to good use in the American midwest.
It turns out there are a few other agencies called Lincoln County Humane Society in North America.
Strooband reached out to Lincoln County Humane Society in Merrill, Wisc., to offer all the local logos, swag, banners, tents and electronic files no longer required and he said the smaller U.S. organization was happy to take the lot.
And, unlike Niagara's Lincoln County Humane Society, Merrill is actually in a Lincoln County.
Karena Walter is a St. Catharines-based reporter, primarily covering city hall for the Standard. Reach her via email: karena.walter@niagaradailies.com