The Wiggle Waggle Walkathon is almost here! It's one of the Humane Society's biggest events of the year and we need your help to make it happen! We are still looking for people to volunteer at this year's Walkathon in a number of areas. Please check the OHS website to see how you can volunteer, register, or donate. You can also contact the Volunteer Department, volunteer@ottawahumane.ca, or call us at 613-725-3166 ext. 231 to sign up and join us for a full day of Wiggle Waggle fun!

Attention all registration volunteers: There will be a mandatory training session to discuss new registration procedures on Wednesday, Aug. 18 in the Community Room at the Westboro Loblaws.

Don't forget the Sept. 12 Wiggle Waggle will take place at a new location this year: on Riverside Drive, across from the RA Centre. We look forward to seeing you there!

Do you enjoy spending time with children and animals? Are you comfortable speaking in front of kids? Are you available for three hours every second week from October until June? Do you have access to a vehicle?

If you answered YES to these questions, you may enjoy volunteering with the Humane Education program! Humane Education teaches young people about the importance of responsible pet ownership, animal welfare, the human-animal bond, and the role of the OHS in the community. If you would like more information about the program, e-mail us, or call us at 613-725-3166 ext. 231.

Thank you to Sandrine Henrie for her commitment and hard work in the Volunteer Department office. Though Sandrine was at the OHS for a short period of time, she became an office volunteer in high demand helping other departments and proving to be a valuable member of the team! We wish she could have stayed longer and wish her all the best as she returns to France.

Earlier this summer, we sent out a survey to all dog walkers in order to get feedback to better serve the needs of our current dog walkers, and of course, the OHS dogs! Thank you to those volunteers who filled out the survey. Your comments will help improve the program so we can operate to the best of our abilities. Here are some of the things we are working on: upgrading the time cards so dog walkers are aware when dogs have been walked, enhancing the communication between the Volunteer Department and dog walkers, and starting a dog walking corner in the Volunteer Connection so we can all share stories and stay updated on the dogs.

For volunteers interested in joining the Brightening Lives program, there is a new requirement: all Brightening Lives volunteers must have a companion animal suitable for visits. Your animal must pass the Behaviour Departments temperament test in order to visit the Brightening Lives facilities that benefit from the animal visits.

Please contact brighteninglives@ottawahumane.ca or call 613-725-3166 ext. 264 if you have any questions!

The OHS Volunteer Application is now available on the website! The application can be filled out and sent back via e-mail. All new applicants will be contacted by the Volunteer Manager and informed of current volunteer opportunities.

We will be holding General Volunteer Orientations on Monday, Aug. 30 from 6 p.m.–8 p.m. and on Tuesday, Sept. 7 from 6 p.m.–8 p.m. here at the OHS. If you have not yet been scheduled for an orientation, please contact the Volunteer Office.

The Ottawa Humane Society has a kids' website? If you're a kid (or a kid at heart) and you love animals, this is the site for you! The new website has furry facts, a fun zone, tips on how to help OHS, animals in the community, and much more! Check it out at www.ohskids.ca

Keri Abella is the acting Manager of Volunteers at the OHS while Erin Richards is on leave. She will be in the office from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. from Monday to Friday and from 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Wednesdays. Please don't hesitate to contact her for all your volunteer needs! volunteer@ottawahumane.ca or call 613-725-3166 ext. 231.

Woof! Fritz is a nine-month-old Giant Schnauzer mix. He originally came to the Ottawa Humane Society (OHS) after he was hit by a car in the country. He was surrendered by his owner as his medical care was too much for his family, but luckily, the OHS was able to help him. His foster volunteers are giving him all the love and attention he needs to get better but he is very excited to start looking for his new forever home. Help animals like Fritz through the Buddy & Belle Fund.