The Adoption Centre
- What are your adoption hours?
- Where are you located?
- How much does it cost to adopt a pet?
- How many pets do you adopt?
- Where do your animals come from?
- What is the adoption process like?
- How do you decide who is adoptable?
- How long do you keep animals?
- Do you ever get purebred dogs or cats?
- What if I'm looking for a specific type of pet?
- Do you require spaying or neutering of adopted cats and dogs?
- Are there laws in Ottawa about having pets?
- What if I have challenges when I bring my new pet home?
- I adopted a pet from you, and now need to update her microchip information!
- How do I surrender an animal to you for adoption?
Q: What are your adoption hours?
A: Shelter adoption hours are:
Monday to Friday – 12 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Saturday – 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
A: We are located at 101 Champagne Avenue South, which is just off Carling Avenue near Dow's Lake. Click here for a map.
Q: How much does it cost to adopt a pet?
A: The adoption fees are as follows:
DOGS |
ADOPTION FEE |
| Puppies (under 6 months) | $340.00 |
| Dogs: | $280.00 |
| Small Breed Dogs (under 15kg) | $340.00 |
CATS |
ADOPTION FEE |
| Kittens (under 6 months) | $205.00 |
| Cats | $150.00 |
SMALL ANIMALS |
ADOPTION FEE |
| Large White Rabbits | $20.00 |
| Spayed / Neutered Rabbits | $80.00 |
| Small, Lop, or Fancy Rabbits | $30.00 |
| Guinea Pigs | $18.00 |
| Guinea Pigs (under 6 months) | $22.00 |
| Degus | $15.00 |
| Chinchilla | $40.00 |
| Gerbils | $10.00 |
| Hamsters | $10.00 |
| Mice | $7.00 |
| Rats | $9.99 |
PET BIRDS |
ADOPTION FEE |
| Budgies | $27.00 |
| Canaries | $27.00 |
| Finches | $27.00 |
| Cockatiels - Grey | $52.00 |
| Cockatiels - Cinnamon, Lutinos or Hand Raised | $77.00 |
| Love Birds (each) | $77.00 |
| Doves | $22.00 |
For cats and dogs: these costs include a health check, initial deworming and vaccination, and permanent microchip identification. Most cats and dogs adopted from the OHS have already been sterilized. However, the occasional animal is not suitable for the surgery prior to adoption. Therefore, it will be the responsibility of the new owner to have the animal sterilized within six months of the adoption, by a veterinarian of the adopter's choice. When the sterilization is complete, the refund voucher (found on the adoption contract) and proof of sterilization can be brought to the OHS for an $80 refund. The adoption fee also includes six weeks of pet insurance coverage through Petsecure.
All dogs are temperament assessed prior to being placed for adoption.
All small mammals are health checked prior to being placed for adoption. Second hand cages are available for small mammals at reasonable rates.
Q: How many pets do you adopt?
A: Every day animals at the Ottawa Humane Society find new homes. In our 2007-2008 fiscal year, the Society found homes for 3768 cats, dogs and small domestic pets. We are proud of our efforts and are committed to placing 100 per cent of adoptable animals into new, loving homes.
Q: Where do your animals come from?
A: Lost or stray animals, and pets surrendered by their owners make up the majority of the animals received at the OHS. If you have lost or found an animal, please visit the Lost and Found section of our website for more information and instruction. Animals are also admitted through Emergency Animal Protection Services.
Shelter Transfer Program
Our Shelter Assistance Program accepts animals from other humane societies, as far away as Kingston, Cornwall, Gatineau and Lanark. These animals are examined by a veterinarian before they are placed into our adoption program. As well, we are in an innovative partnership with Canadian North airlines to arrange for the safe passage of hundreds of dogs from Nunavut giving many of these animals a second chance at life. Of course, Ottawa's animals always come first and we only provide these services when the OHS has capacity.
Q: What's the adoption process like?
A: As your local humane society, we have a responsibility to place animals in suitable environments that will promote loving bonds between adopters and their pets. Through our adoption process, we will help you find that perfect pet, the one that fulfills your expectations, and suits your lifestyle. An adoption counsellor will guide you to ensure that the adoption experience will prove positive for both you and your new companion animal. The long-term well-being of the animals in our care is our main concern; therefore, not all adoption requests may be successful.
As part of the process potential adopters are asked to complete a questionnaire. This questionnaire will supply the adoption counsellor with information about you, your lifestyle, and the type of pet you are looking for.
The Adoption Agreement you sign when you adopt an animal will clearly explain your obligations and responsibilities when you adopt an animal from us.
Q: How do you decide who is adoptable?
A: Our goal is to place 100 per cent of the pets received at our shelter. This can be quite a challenge because we accept all companion animals brought to us regardless of their health or temperament. Pets placed for adoption need to be of sound temperament and good health. Pets with a history of severe aggression or that show signs that they are likely to be dangerous in a variety of settings are not suitable for our adoption program. Our team of animal health professionals ensure every medical option is explored in order to save an ill or injured animal.
Q: How long do you keep animals?
A: We keep all healthy, adoptable animals as long as it takes to find them a new home. For some animals this can mean living at the shelter for six weeks or more until the right home is available. The length of stay for animals varies. No animal is ever euthanized solely due to lack of space or because the animal has simply “been here too long.”
The OHS has over 300 foster families who care for newborns, pregnant cats, and recuperating dogs until they are ready to be placed up for adoption. Our foster families cared for over 1420 animals in our 2007-2008 fiscal year!
Q: Do you ever get purebred dogs or cats?
A: We do get purebred dogs and cats of all ages; however they tend to be adopted very quickly. If you are interested in a specific breed or type of pet, view the Profiles of Dogs and Profiles of Cats)currently available for adoption. You may also contact the Adoption Centre to complete a "Pet Request".
Q: What if I'm looking for a specific type of pet?
A: If you’ve visited our website or Adoption Centre but haven’t found just the right pet for you, we may be able to help you through our Pet Request Program.
The Pet Request Program works like this:
- You complete a Dog Questionnaire or Cat Questionnaire at the OHS Adoption Centre. The Questionnaire helps us to understand the type/breeds and characteristics of the ideal pet for you by asking you about your pet-ownership experience, your family and your lifestyle.
- We keep the questionnaire on file for two months, during which time we will try to find a match for you as animals become available for adoption. Note that our Request Program operates under a “best effort” policy — we do not always have time to go through all requests prior to making an animal available for general adoption in our Adoption Centre.
- If we find a match for you, we will call and tell you about the animal we have found. In the best interest of the animal, we cannot hold an animal for you if we cannot reach you directly but may contact another potential adopter and/or make the animal available for general adoption.
- Because the Request Program is a “best effort” program, please keep checking our website and visit our Adoption Centre when you can. You may find an animal that does not match the profile you provided but which may prove to be the right pet for you! Let us know if you see an animal that interests you by calling 613-725-3166 ext. 258. We will review the match with your Questionnaire and talk to you about next steps.
- If you have not heard from us toward the end of the two-month request period, you may contact us to renew your request.
- If you have found a match from another source, please let us know so that we can stop searching for a match for you.
Please note that we do not take requests for kittens. In the interest of both our animals and our community, we reserve the right to select the most appropriate match.
Q: Do you require spaying or neutering of adopted cats and dogs?
A: Yes! We are committed to ending pet overpopulation and consider spaying and neutering one solution to this tragic problem. The OHS in-house veterinary clinic's main goal is to spay or neuter as many shelter cats and dogs as possible, prior to putting them up for adoption. However, the occasional animal is not suitable for surgery prior to adoption. Therefore, it will be the responsibility of the new owner to have the animal sterilized within six months of the adoption, by a veterinarian of the adopter's choice. When the sterilization is complete, the refund voucher (found on the adoption contract) and proof of sterilization can be brought to the OHS for an $80 refund.
Q: Are there laws in Ottawa about having pets?
A: Yes! You should be aware of the City of Ottawa's Animal Care and Control Bylaws and your responsibilities as a pet owner. Visit the city's website for more information.
Q: What if I have challenges when I bring my new pet home?
A: Adopting an animal is the easy part. The challenge usually begins when you get your new pet home. Common pet issues are discussed on our Pet Tips page. We also have trained personnel on staff to answer questions you may have about your new pet. They can be reached at adoptions@ottawahumane.ca or 613-725-3166 ext. 258.
As well, the OHS has numerous informational brochures and fact sheets available to provide you with much needed resource material. There are also books and booklets available for sale in the OHS store.
Q: How do I surrender an animal to you for adoption?
A: Giving up an animal is never easy, for the owner or for the pet. Please visit our Giving Up Your Pet page for more information.
For answers to other questions about the OHS, please use our or visit our FAQ section. If you don’t find the answer you’re looking for there, please e-mail ohs@ottawahumane.ca and a staff member will get back to you.
