A chilly season for the animals |
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 Heating issues in our aging shelter created a holiday crisis for the animals. Two days before Christmas part of our HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) system failed, causing pipes to burst and leaving areas of the building without heat. The in-house clinic and Adoption Centre were both affected, meaning surgeries were cancelled and portable heaters were brought in to keep animals comfortable. Our premises staff worked long hours to prevent further damage, while our foster and adoption workers scrambled to get as many animals as possible moved out of the building and into foster homes.
Our staff, volunteers and the community at large responded incredibly quickly, and generously, to our pleas for help. Through a combination of swift heating repairs and a slate of welcoming foster homes, our animals had a warm and caring start to the new year.
Click here to find out how you can help cover the repair costs! |
OHS lays first criminal charges of the year |
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| A poodle, similar to the one pictured here, was stabbed to death last month. The OHS has laid charges in the case. |
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Investigators at the OHS have laid the first criminal charges of 2009 against an Ottawa woman accused of stabbing a dog to death.
Abir Hamade, 24, was charged after the body of the deceased animal living in the residence where she was staying was brought to the shelter on Jan. 19 by the owner. Investigators suspected the five-year-old poodle, named Morgan, had been stabbed, and a necropsy performed by OHS veterinarians confirmed the suspicion, finding that the dog died as a result of a knife wound to its shoulder blade area.
Ms. Hamade is expected to appear in court on March 24. For more information, see our press release. |
Bus strike affecting volunteers |
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 The OHS is joining with the rest of the community in celebrating the end to the city’s lengthy bus strike. With no bus service for close to two months, many of our regular volunteers chose other transportation options, including biking or walking. Others were unable to report for volunteer duties at all, including office work and visiting schools and long-term care centres for our Humane Education and Brightening Lives programs. OHS staff worked overtime in many instances to ensure the services continued without disruption.
Volunteers give close to 25,000 hours of service each year at the OHS — a priceless contribution! With bus service resumed once again, we look forward to all our volunteers re-instituting their schedules as soon as possible. |
Cautious approach to new year |
The state of the economy is hard to ignore these days, and it’s certainly on the minds of all at the OHS as we start to plan for the next fiscal year. By now, many of you will have received our 2008 report card in the mail, outlining our past accomplishments and goals for the year ahead. With recent donation appeals slightly under target, we’ll be undertaking some cautious planning and program reviews to stretch our limited resources to help each and every animal that will come through our doors in 2009.
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Top 10 pet poisons of 2008 |
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Valentine’s tributes
Looking for a creative, non-fattening present for the animal lover on your list this Valentine’s Day? Why not make a tribute gift to the animals in the name of the one you love? It’s a heartfelt way to say you care, while helping the animals at the same time. Click here for more information on this sweet idea!
FurBall coming soon!
Time is running out to purchase your tickets to the 5th OHS FurBall gala on March 28, 2009 at the National Gallery of Canada. The Casablanca-themed evening will feature sumptuous cuisine, fabulous entertainment and tempting live and silent auctions to help the animals in our care. Visit our website for more information.
Run and walk for the animals!
Are you a runner or a walker? Are you planning to participate in the 2009 Ottawa Race Weekend on May 23-24?
Why not run or walk to raise money for the 1,000 animals that we will care for each month? The OHS can help you set up a personal run page so you can ask your friends, relatives and co-workers to support you and your favourite cause. For more information, please e-mail or call 613-725-3166 ext. 237.
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Thousands of animals across North America were poisoned last year by items common to most homes. Hidden dangers can be found in cleaners, food and even household plants. 