Bust out your baking trays, start whipping up some batter, and keep your pooches (and that family member with a sweet tooth!) away from the kitchen—February 25th marks Canada’s first ever National Cupcake Day! Donate your baking and, better still, eating skills to this awesome event to help raise money for tens of thousands of animals in local shelters, SPCAs, and humane societies across the country.

The initiative, started by The British Columbia Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (BC SPCA) and the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Ontario SPCA), and sponsored by Petsecure pet health insurance, has already proven a great success in other countries, including Australia, New Zealand and U.K. As Glenn Williams, president and CEO of Petsecure notes, “National Cupcake Day has been a phenomenal success in other countries and it can do just as well in Canada.” The treat-filled day has also received support from Lori Joyce and Heather White, owners of the delectable retail chain Cupcakes and hosts of W Network’s The Cupcake Girls. The dynamic duo will be offering their baking expertise, speaking at promotional events, and judging cupcake competitions held in conjunction with the event.

To get involved, all you need is a few minutes to register online and create you very own “online bakery” page where you can promote your treats. Then pull out your fancy cookware (or your easy bake oven—whatever works), get baking, and exchange your cupcakes for a donation. Your happy cupcake eaters then can either donate to you in person or to your online bakery. If you really want to get into it, why not throw a Cupcake party at your local school, church or doggy daycare? You could even bring out the big (icing) guns, and enter the event’s four cupcake competitions by submitting a photo of your creations on National Cupcake Day’s Facebook page (categories include best animal, most creative, kids’ cupcake and Valentine’s day). No matter how your cupcakes turn out, we can’t think of a sweeter way to help raise money for animals.

To find out more information about the event, go to nationalcupcakeday.ca.