A Day Aboard the New OHS Mobile Spay/Neuter Clinic

The new OHS Mobile Spay/Neuter Clinic is officially operating in the city of Ottawa! This exciting new service provides subsidized spay/neuter surgeries for cats in our community, allowing the OHS to meet clients in the neighbhourhoods they call home and to address the barriers of both cost and transportation for low income pet owners seeking to spay or neuter their cats.

OHS Mobile Spay/Neuter Clinic

The OHS is grateful for the support from our community in this new frontier to reduce cat homelessness in Ottawa and to help preserve the human-animal bond by providing services that allow more pet owners to keep their pets. The OHS is on its way to its goal of sterilizing 6,000 cats by the end of the second year of operations and making a real difference in the number of cats living on the streets and entering the shelter each day.

The OHS has received an outpouring of demand and support for this new service, with many community members eager to book appointments for their cats, and many also curious to learn more about how this program works, specifically, what happens during a typical day aboard the mobile clinic. The OHS is currently serving 10-20 cats per clinic day with this program. To facilitate a high-volume mobile clinic, the program adheres to a structured daily schedule to help provide the best care for the most number of animals each day:

7 a.m.: Staff drive the mobile clinic to the community location.

8 a.m.: Clients arrive at the clinic and begin registering their cats. All clients have made appointments prior to the clinic date. Clients leave the clinic site for the day.

9 a.m.: A veterinarian completes an examination of each animal to identify any health issues before beginning surgery. When necessary, the veterinarian contacts clients before proceeding.

10 a.m.: Surgeries begin. 

2 p.m.: Surgeries completed. Cats are provided food and water and carefully monitored through the recovery period.

3 p.m.: Clients return to pick up their cats. Clients receive post-operative care instructions. 

4:30 p.m.: The clinic day completes. 

The program has agreements in place with emergency veterinary clinics in Ottawa. If an animal ever were to experience medical complications while aboard the mobile clinic, or after returning home with its owner, the animal would be treated at an emergency clinic.      

To qualify for $20 spay/neuter services from the mobile clinic, pet owners must provide proof of income qualification. The program only provides services to cats. To learn more about Mobile Spay/Neuter Clinic, visit ottawahumane.ca/mobile.

Months of Effort to Save Dex the Dog’s Injured Leg

When Dex the German shepherd was surrendered to the OHS, he was in dire straits. His hind leg swollen to three times its normal size after getting entangled in a leash for some time, vets worried it would have to be amputated.

Despite the terrible injury, Dex was still able to walk on the leg so there was hope to save it. The vet started the pup on pain meds, antibiotics, hydrotherapy and regular bandage changes to give him the best shot at keeping the leg.

OHS veterinarians, veterinary technicians and kennel attendants worked hard to save his leg, with soaking, wound care and bandage changes part of his daily routine for almost two months.
Dex needed one surgery along the way to alleviate tension around the leg, as scar tissue had begun to threaten its circulation.  

All the efforts paid off! Dex’s leg was saved and he was adopted into his forever home last month.

A very scared cat trapped on the Queensway earlier this month took a surprise leap of faith straight through the window of a waiting emergency vehicle and to safety with an OHS officer there to save his life.

On Sept. 13, a Good Samaritan called the OHS to say he saw an orange cat stuck on the 417, with cars whizzing by and no chance of escape.

OHS officers called the OPP, since they don’t have the authority to stop on the Queensway. But after getting a second call, the officers loaded into the OHS vehicle and drove to investigate.

When the officers spotted the terrified little furball on the high cement wall, they put on their hazards and pulled up next to him.
One officer rolled down her window and the cat — deciding he’d had enough excitement for one day — jumped right into the vehicle!

The kitty quickly made himself comfortable on the console, showering the officers with appreciative purrs and head-butts.
When the fortunate feline was brought to the OHS Lost and Found, staff found a microchip and called his family. In no time at all, Champi was home safe.