OHS launches website aimed specifically at kids

Girl with Kitten We’ve launched a brand new website aimed at promoting caring and compassion towards animals. OHSkids.ca includes facts about specific kinds of pets, kid-friendly downloads and games, and advice on how young people can help animals in our community.

The website also includes parent and teacher-friendly resources on the same topics, with links to the OHS Humane Education Program, where volunteers and animals visit schools to teach children from JK to high school about dog safety, responsible animal ownership, preventing animal abuse and neglect, and animal-related career options.

Whether you’re a kid or just a kid at heart, check out the new site here !

Sarah McLachlan wants you to help the animals

One of Canada's biggest stars, Sarah McLachlan, is helping the OHS and others to get the message out about the benefits of monthly donations. As the newest “PAW ambassador”, the singer is using her voice to urge people who care about animals to sign up for our PAW (Pre-Authorized Withdrawal) program to protect and care for homeless and abused animals in our community.

The PAW program is a convenient and generous way of helping the animals. On the first business day of every month we take your gift off of your credit card or out of your bank account. By donating on a monthly basis you are ensuring animals receive care throughout the year!

View Sarah’s video on behalf of the animals.

OHS employs best practices to ensure animal health

Strep Equi Following the discovery of two cases of a deadly strain of bacteria in the shelter in late summer that were successfully contained, the OHS is undertaking proactive measures to learn more about the pathogen and ensure we are employing the best practices for keeping animals healthy in our aging building.

We have entered into an ongoing consultation relationship with an infectious disease specialist from the University of Guelph, who toured the shelter in late October and provided several recommendations on animal health. His findings indicated that most of our practices were the best they could be, but that given the shelter's deteriorating condition, it would be impossible to effectively disinfect the entire building. We’re also actively seeking advice and information from other shelters across North America on their experiences with disease.

While we’re committed to doing the absolute best we can for the animals, our efforts are hampered by the limitations of our crowded and out-of-date building. Learn how you can help build a new home for Ottawa’s animals!

New name for program helping animals and youth

LEAD The OHS program aimed at helping youth with emotional issues through dog training has a new name — and hopefully soon a new look. The LEAD (Leadership Education with Adolescents and Dogs) program (formerly YOUCAN) launches its inaugural session under its new moniker this month, with participants at the RobertsSmart Centre, a local service agency helping youth with emotional and behavioural difficulties. OHS volunteers will bring shelter dogs to the centre where they’ll work with the youth to train the dogs, boosting the young people's self esteem and teaching compassion and empathy for animals. The OHS was the recent recipient of an award from the RobertsSmart Centre, recognizing our partnership over the past few years.

We’ll be focusing our efforts on re-branding the program over the coming weeks. If you or anyone you know would be interested in designing a new logo for the program, please let us know.

Buddy & Belle helps Bailey

Bailey is a young poodle mix who was surrendered to the OHS after his owners couldn’t afford to treat his broken leg. It seems boisterous Bailey broke two bones in his leg after excitedly leaping off a couch.

The staff at the OHS immediately fell in love with Bailey’s affectionate nature. He’s currently receiving lots of pets and attention in his foster home, where his leg is healing after being splinted. Luckily for the staff, Bailey makes regular trips back to the shelter to get checked by the veterinarian and to have his leg X-rayed. Soon Bailey will be ready to look for a brand new forever home!

Find out how you can help animals like Bailey through the OHS Buddy & Belle fund.

OHS on CTV

Some of you may have seen CTV’s recent three-part series on the OHS. The behind-the-scenes look featured the emotional work of our EAPS team, a peek inside our clinic, and a look at our adoptions procedures.

If you missed the series, you can catch up here.

Santa Paws is coming to town

It’s that time of year again! Get ready to have your favourite furry friend pose with Santa. This year’s photo sessions will take place the last two weekends of November, at Westgate Shopping Centre and Lincoln Fields Shopping Centre respectively.

Visit our website for exact details and times.

We hope you enjoyed this edition of The Ottawa Animal Advocate. Watch for us each month in your inbox! Please forward this on to anyone who cares about Ottawa's animals.