Caring for tiny kittens is a lot of work, as many of our foster volunteers know. In an effort to help our volunteers, some of our foster families are now able to weigh their kittens at home to determine if the animals meet the minimum weight threshold to be sterilized. The scales reduce the risk of exposing vulnerable kittens to any illnesses or stress they might encounter during a visit to the shelter. The scales allow allow our volunteers to ensure their kitten charges are growing and gaining weight appropriately. Each scale costs $35 and we plan to add more to the foster program in the new year. Click here if you would like to make a gift to help us purchase these new tools.

And just a reminder that we will be fostering all of the dogs in our Adoption Centre from Dec. 23 to 28. If you are a registered foster volunteer and would like to share your home with a deserving dog this Christmas, please call 613-725-3166 ext. 255.

Thank you to our team of terrific volunteers who helped out with our annual Santa Pet Pics. These seasonal souls donated their time over three weekends in November and early December to take wonderful pictures of people and their pets with Santa Claus. Thanks to their devotion and generosity, we raised $4,600 for the animals in our care!

Our next dog training course takes place Jan. 27 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and it has has a new name to celebrate the new year! This dog walking training session (formerly called Level One) will now be known as Shelter Manners Theory. This session is a one-time, two hour session for all dog walkers. Please e-mail us to sign up.

Our other training session, previously called Obedience or Manners training, will now be known as Shelter Manners Practical. This session runs one evening a week over four weeks, and Shelter Manners Theory is a prerequisite. Stay tuned for future dates for these courses.

After eight years, it is with great sadness that I have left the OHS, effective Dec. 11, 2009. I have chosen to pursue an exciting, new opportunity with many challenges.

I cannot tell you how much I have enjoyed my time at the OHS, and I am very grateful for all the wonderful support from such a strong, dedicated team of volunteers who are so committed to helping Ottawa’s animals.

I want to thank all the volunteers and staff (and animals!) for making my job so pleasurable. I wish everyone the best.

Until a new volunteer manager is in place, please e-mail any of your concerns to volunteer@ottawahumane.ca.

Rory is a two-year-old Pointer mix who has been at the shelter since August! Rory has been through both our foster program and our LEAD (Leadership Education with Adolescents and Dogs) program — formerly YOUCAN — where he made lots of friends and learned some new tricks. Thanks to volunteer facilitators Barbara Humenny, Jeanne Andrews, Ann Piche and Susan Gold for helping Rory at the recent LEAD session held at the Roberts/Smart Centre in November.

On the heels of his successful training, the staff at the OHS are asking Santa to find Rory a new home for Christmas. To watch a special video featuring Rory, click here.

Thank you everyone for taking the time to respond to our recent volunteer survey. Going forward, we’ll be planning and making decisions based on your feedback.

Many volunteers indicated they're interested in more training opportunities. If you have specific ideas for training sessions you would like to see, please let us know.

We need volunteers for two upcoming Senators games where we’ll be selling raffle tickets. The first game is Jan. 5 at 7:30 p.m. and the second is Jan. 23 at 2 p.m. If you are interested in helping out, please send us an e-mail.

It's flu season for people and we are continuing to experience a high level of kennel cough in dogs, so a reminder to all volunteers to follow hygiene guidelines at the OHS in order to keep animals and humans healthy. Please wash your hands frequently, make use of the hand sanitizer dispensers throughout the building and stay home if you’re feverish or otherwise unwell.
Thank you!

Congratulations to the OHS Auxiliary on their milestone 60th anniversary. Over the past six decades, the Auxiliary have provided much-needed fundraising efforts to help the animals. Thanks to their bake sales, auctions, crafting and other initiatives, they have purchased much of the equipment for our clinic and made significant contributions to our building campaign. Thank you to all our hard-working Auxiliary members for everything they do!