January 3, 2019

Resolutions You Can Keep

According to Business Insider, 80% of New Year’s resolutions are tossed out the window by February.  It can be tough to keep them.  Maybe some are just too hard to maintain. Here are the top seven resolutions suggested by the Ottawa Humane Society that you just might be able to keep:

  1. Stay aware of the plight of animals. Whales in captivity, wild animals travelling in circuses, trophy hunting: there are a lot of fights to fight to help animals.  Become aware, make good consumer choices, become active and write your politicians.
  2. Make a good adoption choice. If your resolution is to bring a pet into your family, do your research and make a good choice. Adopt from the OHS or another reputable animal welfare organization. Check out reputable breeders. Always see the conditions where the dog or cat was raised and the mother. Meeting in a parking lot is a sure sign of something amiss.
  3. Get exercise for you and your pet. People’s #1 resolution is to exercise more and get fit. But maybe the gym is too far away and too intimidating. You might find that doubling the length of your nightly walk with the dog is easier and may produce at least some of the results you are looking for. And playing with the cat for a half hour might not be much exercise, but it’ll keep kitty in shape and keep you away from the chips for the duration!
  4. Help lost, sick and homeless animals. The Ottawa Humane Society cares for close to 10,000 animals every year. We can only do it with your help. A monthly PAW gift means you can save lives all year long. And doing it monthly from your bank or credit card makes it even easier.
  5. Get your pet microchipped and get a collar and tag around her neck. Last year, only 63% of lost dogs and 8% of lost cats returned to their homes, despite our best efforts. Why so low?  The vast majority of lost pets have no microchip implant or visible tag.
  6. Stop putting off that vet appointment. According to the Ontario Veterinarian Medical Association (OVMA), 40% of the province’s pet owners only take their animals to a vet when they think something is wrong. And almost 25% don’t take their pets to a vet at all. Schedule your annual appointment a year in advance so you don’t forget!
  7. Make sure your pet’s health is insured. Unless you are sure that a large sudden veterinary bill will be manageable, it’s time to look at pet insurance. In the last year alone, over 200 animals were surrendered to the OHS by owners who couldn’t afford their care in a crisis.

Happy New Year and good luck with your resolutions.

Bruce Roney

President and CEO