Compassion Campaign
Phase 1:
The OHS Community Veterinary Clinic
Only You Can Build a New Community Veterinary Clinic in Vanier
In the heart of Vanier is the site of the OHS's upcoming Community Veterinary Clinic. The clinic will provide veterinary care for animals whose families face barriers to accessing treatment, community support programs, and a central location for learning about animal welfare.
But we need your help to make this life-saving resource possible.
By offering care at critical moments and preventing crisis before it strikes, the clinic will keep loving families together and ensure more pets can live a happy, healthy life.
With your generous support, the clinic will:
- Provide subsidized veterinary services for animals whose owners meet income qualifications. These services include:
- Wellness visits
- Sterilization
- End of life care
- Urgent care & sick pet
- Dentistry
- Microchip clinics
- Centralize pet retention programs such as:
- OHS Emergency Pet Food Bank
- Training and behaviour classes
- Pet care seminars and workshops
- Support the general public through spay/neuter and microchip clinics
- Improve animal health and well-being through early intervention
- Strengthen Ottawa’s ecosystem of care for animals
We Need Your Help Today
When a pet can’t access veterinary care, it means suffering for them and the people who love them. Delayed treatment can lead to worsening medical conditions, preventable suffering, and, in some cases, the separation of a loving family.
The Community Veterinary Clinic will keep families together, protect the human-animal bond, and support responsible pet ownership across Ottawa. The clinic is a much-needed addition to Ottawa’s ecosystem of animal care.
Please help us bring this vision to life for Ottawa's pets and the people who love them.
More pets are surrendered because of cost
As the cost of living rises, pets are surrendered because their owners can no longer afford to care for their pet.
The OHS has been working hard to reverse this trend with new services such as the Emergency Pet Food Bank, wellness clinics and Sheltering Animals From Emergencies program. But it hasn't been enough...
Half of Canada's pets haven't seen a vet in the past year
PetSmart Charities of Canada State of Pet Care study found that: "Half of pet parents (50%) have not brought their pets to the veterinarian for care within the past year or have declined previous recommended care."
When pets don't receive regular vet care, the likelihood of the pet having serious health issues increases. Every pet needs a vet...
Not every pet can be with their family in the pet's final moments
Many pet owners eventually need to seek end-of-life care for their pet to allow them to pass away peacefully. This is a tremendously important moment for a person and their pet.
Some pet owners can't afford euthanasia for their pet and seek care at the OHS which means their pet cannot be with them in its final moments. But what if this could change...
The OHS's plan for a more compassionate community
December 2025 - Complete!
Rezoning of the site approved by Ottawa City Council >
February 2026 - Complete!
OHS takes ownership of the building >
December 2026
Design and planning >
January 2027
Construction begins >
January 2028
Construction complete >
March 2028
Soft launch of Community Veterinary Clinic >
Mid 2028
Community Veterinary Clinic fully opens >
2028 and beyond
More pets stay with the people who love them!
Working with Ottawa’s local veterinarians for all animals
Together with Ottawa’s veterinary clinics, the OHS’s Community Veterinary Clinic will create a complete safety net for pets and the people who love them.
Guided by a committee of dedicated local veterinarians, the Community Veterinary Clinic will be built on collaboration, compassion and community need. Through the OHS’s partnership with veterinarians, Ottawa’s entire veterinary system will become even stronger with expanded access to needed care for pets whose families face financial or other barriers.
We need your help to build the Community Veterinary Clinic and bridge the gap, working alongside Ottawa’s veterinary practices to ensure no animal suffers.
After the completing the Community Veterinary Clinic and keeping more pets with their loving families. We need your help to expand our shelter and make even more second chances possible for the animals who truly have no one else.
Welcome to the Behaviour and Rehabilitation Campus (BARC).
The BARC is a revolution in shelter care, creating specialized environments that support behavioural recovery, reduce stress, and improve the total welfare of homeless cats and dogs with complex behavioural needs.
With your generous support, the BARC will provide:
- Larger kennels designed to improve comfort and recovery conditions
- Enriched quiet zones that support behavioural rehabilitation
- Dedicated walking paths that encourage movement and enrichment
- Outdoor dog runs that promote physical and behavioural health
More homeless animals are arriving at the OHS with increasingly complex behaviour needs. We need your help to build the BARC and make exceptional care possible for animals with some of the most challenging behaviours.
Expanding the Shelter to Build a State-of-the-art Behaviour and Rehabilitation Campus (BARC)
President & CEO
Sharon Miko
Sharon has worked for the Ottawa Humane Society for more than 20 years and has seen firsthand the progress Ottawa has made for the animals in the past few decades.
Sharon is thrilled for this project to come to life and keep even more pets with their loving families.
You can reach Sharon at sharonm@ottawahumane.ca or 613-725-3166 ext. 232.
Director: Strategy & Development
Joshua Shaw
Josh has a wealth of experience in leading both charities and private businesses through transformational projects.
He knows the Community Veterinary Clinic is the next essential step building a stronger safety net for Ottawa's animals.
You can reach Josh at joshuas@ottawahumane.ca or 613-725-3166 ext. 260.
Manager: Major Giving & Campaign
Tina Labelle
Tina is passionate both for supporting Ottawa's homeless animals and helping people align their giving to a cause that is truly meaningful for them.
Tina can't wait to build the Community Veterinary Clinic together with Ottawa's caring community.
You can reach Tina at tinal@ottawahumane.ca or 613-725-3166 ext. 268.
