Gorging on gourds: How Halloween pumpkins can help local animal sanctuaries

Jack-o'-lanterns looking more sad than scary? CTV’s Ashley Bacon tells us how to get rid of those ghastly gourds.

Halloween may be over, but there are still some treats to be had for residents of local animal sanctuaries.

“[The pigs] enjoy the pumpkins very much,” Shelby Zehr, owner of non-profit animal rescue Shelby’s Ranch, told CTV News on Monday. “They’re very much appreciated by them. The chickens love the pumpkins, even the bunny rabbits absolutely love them. It’s really good for their teeth as well.”

Anyone who has leftover pumpkins, gourds and squash are being asked to consider donating their unwanted produce.

“As long as they have no paint, any chemicals or additives that animals can’t have,” Zehr said.

Decorations should be removed before the pumpkins are donated, including candles or any leftover wax.

With around 70 little mouths to feed, each pumpkin can make a big difference at the Puslinch rescue. Donations can be left at the end of driveway at 7184 Concession 1, by the blue bunny sign.

However, not all animal welfare organizations will accept pumpkins. The Donkey Sanctuary of Canada, which is also in Puslinch, recently received a sizable donation of pumpkins from The Art Gallery of Guelph and does not need any more gently used jack-o-lanterns.

“While we won’t be accepting donations this year from the public, they are a safe treat for any equid [member of the horse family] as pumpkins have a low glycemic index, which is something we carefully monitor with their diets due to the nature of donkeys being at high risk of developing metabolic disorders,” representatives for the Donkey Sanctuary of Canada said in an email to CTV News.

How to dispose of unwanted pumpkins

According to the Region of Waterloo, around 50,000 pumpkins are used locally for Halloween celebrations, creating around 200 metric tonnes of organic waste.

In an email to CTV News, the region encouraged residents to cut up their pumpkins and put them into their green bins, place whole pumpkins on top of or beside green bins at the curb during waste collection days, or add pumpkin pieces to a backyard composter.

Painted pumpkins are considered garbage and should not be placed in green bins.