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OHS condemns city licensing animal cruelty in community |
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 The city’s decision to allow exotic animals to appear at SuperEx last month is a disturbing example of how municipal leaders are licensing animal cruelty in our community.
OHS inspectors visited the SuperEx site on three occasions to investigate the care and housing of the animals — lions, tigers, zebras, camels, reindeer, panthers and wolves — involved in the show. While the care met the mininum acceptable standards, the animals still travelled several hundred kilometres and were not able to engage in natural behaviours.
The time for this kind of entertainment acts has passed. Please contact your city councillor and urge him or her to put an end to wild animals being allowed to appear for show in Ottawa.
Read more about the OHS position statement on Animals in the Entertainment Industry, or for background on our lobby efforts to city council. |
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Dog vaccinations help prevent transmission of disease |
A new shelter initiative is aiming to prevent the spread of disease in our cramped and outdated building. For the past few weeks, at-risk dogs arriving at the OHS have been vaccinated with the bordetella shot, which will reduce the possibility of contracting a particularly virulent strain of kennel cough that's currently circulating. When dogs come down with kennel cough, they’re not able to undergo sterilization surgery or become available for adoption until they've recovered, which can take weeks.
The thousands of vaccines we'll give over the coming year are expensive — $6 each, and each dog gets two rounds — but the investment results in healthier animals who are able to move to new homes faster.
You can help us keep shelter dogs healthy! |
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OHS sees rise in ongoing neglect issues with owned animals |
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 Our animal rescue team is dealing with a rise in neglect cases, following the investigation of several pet owners who failed to seek veterinary care for sick, or injured pets, leaving them to suffer.
Since March, when new provincial animal cruelty legislation came into effect, OHS agents have laid four charges in cases involving animals with medical issues so severe that euthanasia has been the only humane option.
It’s vital that pets receive ongoing, and lifelong, medical care. Failing to recognize suffering and offer relief is inhumane and not an option.
If veterinary care isn’t financially possible, or if someone is simply unable to care for an ailing pet, we urge owners to contact us to discuss surrendering an animal instead of allowing it to suffer without care. For more on this issue, click here.
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Hidden costs of free kittens |
Many "free" animals are advertised online these days, but just how inexpensive are these finds?
Here are the five key hidden costs of a kitten obtained for free. |
1. Sterilization surgery to prevent pet overpopulation. ($250)
2. Treatment for ear mites, fleas and internal parasites ($89)
3. Microchip for permanent identification ($60)
4. Initial health check ($50)
5. First vaccination ($27.50)
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*Compare this to the cost of a kitten at the OHS: $205, which includes all the treatments listed here — and more!
Click here to view cats currently available for adoption.
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Buddy & Belle Fund helps Morkie
Morkie is a 15-year-old Lhasa Apso who was brought to the shelter by OHS rescue agents after his owners were no longer able to care for him. Morkie arrived covered in a heavy and severely matted coat. OHS staff shaved off 0.62 kg of fur, uncovering a soft-natured and gentle little dog! Morkie’s new family love his new look, and he shows his appreciation every day with happy tail wags and barks of joy. Find out how you can help animals like Fred through the OHS Buddy & Belle Fund.
Donate Air Miles to the animals
Now you can donate your Air Miles to help the animals at the OHS. We’ll use the points you collect to purchase prizes to be raffled or sold to raise money for the cats, dogs and small animals we help every day.
Find out how you can help!
Walk this way!
The Wiggle Waggle Walkathon is just around the corner. If you haven’t already registered, there’s still time to sign up and begin raising money to help the animals. Get started online now! |
