OHS building campaign officially launched

The OHS has officially launched its massive fundraising drive to build a new shelter for Ottawa’s animals. The launch of the Breaking Ground Building Campaign got a public unveiling on March 28 at our fifth annual FurBall event. Led by a champagne toast from Mrs. Laureen Harper, an OHS foster volunteer and supporter, the crowd of more 400 cheered as a list of campaign contributions was read aloud.

The OHS is committed to raising $9.5 million to building a modern, spacious new building in the burgeoning south end of the city. To date, over 20 per cent of the funds have been pledged, but there’s still more work to be done. To find out more about the campaign, or how you can help, visit www.breakingground.ca.

  YOUCAN session a success

Our recent YOUCAN (Youth Connecting with Animals) session wrapped up in March and was a resounding success for all the participants involved. The program is a dog-training initiative that takes place at a local correctional facility and promotes the psychological development of selected at-risk participants through an interactive triad of youth, facilitator and dog. Our volunteers and dogs partnered with young women at the Roberts Smart Centre, who spent time training four shelter dogs, including Cruzer, pictured here. The training helped make the dogs more adoptable and the program works to develop empathy in at-risk youth in our community.

To hear a CBC Ottawa broadcast about the program, please click here.

 Security investments for staff

With so many staff working at all hours to care for the animals, the OHS is adopting new security measures to keep workers safe while on the job. Animal attendants who work alone in our dog runs, or in our temperament assessment office, will soon be equipped with arm alarms that will allow other staff to be immediately notified in case of an emergency. The alarms will send out a piercing signal and flashing light to alert others in the building.

Similarly, our EAPS agents regularly work solo up to 1 a.m., so we’ve invested in a satellite pager system that will immediately dispatch emergency personnel to the field. The system is currently being used by SPCA agents in Alberta, and will cost about $100 per unit — a small price to pay to keep our agents safe.

  Fifth time a charm for FurBall!

Ottawa’s National Gallery was transported to 1940’s Morocco on March 28 as more than 370 guests dined and danced at the fifth annual OHS FurBall. The sold-out gala was our most successful to date, raising $155,000 for the animals!

New to this year’s FurBall was the IAMS celebrity pet bowl auction, featuring customized bowls decorated by Elizabeth Manley, Margaret Trudeau, Mimi Surada (pictured) and others. A bowl signed by the Ottawa Senators hockey team brought in $800 during the spirited live auction, which was presented by Jim Watson, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. Thank you to all our guests for caring so much about the animals!

To view photos of the evening, click here.