Progress from January to March 2025
Your Life-Saving Impact
Ottawa’s caring community supports animals in need, helps loving families stay together and builds the next generation of caring people. These results and stories are all possible thanks to our community.
Impact Reports
From the President's Desk
Our Mysterious Puppy Population
From the President's Desk
Our Mysterious Puppy Population
It’s been a long, long time since we’ve had boxes of puppies brought to us for shelter and care. But these past months have changed that — dramatically.
From January to March, 78 puppies came to us with nowhere else to go — a sharp increase from only 11 in the same period in 2024.
No questions asked, if someone is no longer able to care for their pet, bringing them to the OHS is a responsible, loving decision that can secure a second chance for their pet.
However, taking the time to notice trends and why they’re happening helps us do more for the animals and get ahead of a rising crisis. I see two big reasons why more puppies are coming to the OHS.
The cost of caring for a pet is increasingly becoming a concern for our community. Only a few years ago, people were eagerly seeking new pets. Some spent thousands of dollars online for a designer puppy. Today, our community is more cautious and fewer are taking on new pets. That means even intentional litters are
harder to rehome.
During the pandemic, most people who wanted a dog got a dog. Supply started to outweigh demand and breeders were left with puppies that they could not sell.
Regardless of how an animal comes to us, we are proud to be here for the animals and grateful that people will entrust us with their pets. However, we’d much prefer to keep a pet with a loving family whenever
possible. On this page, you’ll see the great progress you’ve helped make possible in supporting Ottawa’s pet owners — especially in times of crisis.
You do it because you know that pets belong in homes where they are loved.
Sharon Miko
President & CEO
From January to March 2025...
144 Pets
helped through wellness clinics.
6,380 lbs
of pet food provided to pets in the community through the Emergency Pet Food Bank.
161 Cats
helped through subsidized spay/neuter.
No Time Limit on Hope: Chelsea’s Story
When Chelsea arrived in our care this past January, she was not alone.
By her side were ten tiny, newborn puppies — just days old. Chelsea, a five-year-old Labrador retriever mix, had been found as a stray, doing everything she could to care for her babies in the cold. She was exhausted, wary, and overwhelmed — but still a protective momma.
From the moment she arrived, we knew her journey would take time. She was nervous and barked at anyone who came too close — not out of aggression, but fear and fierce maternal instinct. Her puppies grew stronger with every feeding and quickly became healthy, happy bundles of energy.
Once Chelsea finished weaning her puppies and she regained her strength, she underwent surgery to remove three masses from her skin. All were suspected to be benign, but the procedure marked just one part of her long road to recovery.
She’s made great progress and she’s learning to trust again. With help from our intervention services team,
Chelsea has begun to show affection and curiosity. While she still has moments of nervousness, we know that with the right home, she’ll continue to blossom.
Chelsea’s journey hasn’t been short or simple. But thanks to your support, it has been possible.
You’ve been with her from the very start. And with your continued support, we’ll keep showing animals like
Chelsea that love, healing and home are never out of reach.
No Time Limit on Hope: Chelsea’s Story
When Chelsea arrived in our care this past January, she was not alone.
By her side were ten tiny, newborn puppies — just days old. Chelsea, a five-year-old Labrador retriever mix, had been found as a stray, doing everything she could to care for her babies in the cold. She was exhausted, wary, and overwhelmed — but still a protective momma.
From the moment she arrived, we knew her journey would take time. She was nervous and barked at anyone who came too close — not out of aggression, but fear and fierce maternal instinct. Her puppies grew stronger with every feeding and quickly became healthy, happy bundles of energy.
Once Chelsea finished weaning her puppies and she regained her strength, she underwent surgery to remove three masses from her skin. All were suspected to be benign, but the procedure marked just one part of her long road to recovery.
She’s made great progress and she’s learning to trust again. With help from our intervention services team,
Chelsea has begun to show affection and curiosity. While she still has moments of nervousness, we know that with the right home, she’ll continue to blossom.
Chelsea’s journey hasn’t been short or simple. But thanks to your support, it has been possible.
You’ve been with her from the very start. And with your continued support, we’ll keep showing animals like
Chelsea that love, healing and home are never out of reach.
SAFE: Bringing Pets Home
You make it possible for pet owners in crisis to temporarily shelter their pets at the OHS. Whether for a few weeks or a few months, pet owners can take care of their needs knowing that their pet is in a safe place and that they will be reunited. Here is one of the families your love and support helped keep together:
“When my brother became ill and had to be hospitalized for a long period of time I wasn’t sure what to do with his two cats. My hope was that he would recover and be reunited with his much-loved companions.
I called the OHS to see if they could help and was delighted to hear about the SAFE Program. They didn’t hesitate, they said, ‘bring them in.’
The OHS not only put the cats in a loving foster home where they thrived but my brother and I were given regular updates and pictures too. They also provided them with much needed veterinary care.
The SAFE Program and the OHS gave us peace of mind while we were dealing with a difficult situation. Thank you, OHS, for providing this much needed program to our community.”
And thank you for your generosity that keeps pets with the families who love them.
SAFE: Bringing Pets Home
You make it possible for pet owners in crisis to temporarily shelter their pets at the OHS. Whether for a few weeks or a few months, pet owners can take care of their needs knowing that their pet is in a safe place and that they will be reunited. Here is one of the families your love and support helped keep together:
“When my brother became ill and had to be hospitalized for a long period of time I wasn’t sure what to do with his two cats. My hope was that he would recover and be reunited with his much-loved companions.
I called the OHS to see if they could help and was delighted to hear about the SAFE Program. They didn’t hesitate, they said, ‘bring them in.’
The OHS not only put the cats in a loving foster home where they thrived but my brother and I were given regular updates and pictures too. They also provided them with much needed veterinary care.
The SAFE Program and the OHS gave us peace of mind while we were dealing with a difficult situation. Thank you, OHS, for providing this much needed program to our community.”
And thank you for your generosity that keeps pets with the families who love them.
7 Rabbits, 7 Teens: 1 Mission
Seven rabbits went home with their youth foster volunteers in May! Here’s what the teens had to say about fostering a sweet bunny in need:
Callisto's youth foster:
“My favourite thing about fostering was when I was just sitting on
the ground and my rabbit would come to me, jumping on and off of
me! I learned that fostering is an amazing experience."
Digger's youth foster:
“My favourite thing: Watching her open up and show her personality.
It felt really special to earn her trust and her to feel safe around me”.
Ready to Love: Ladybug Has Made It
You may remember Ladybug — pregnant, injured, underweight and carrying a massive tumour on her paw. Her journey wasn’t easy.
She needed surgery, fostering, daily medical care — and after all that, the veterinary team still had to amputate her leg. She has battled allergies, chronic ear infections and a fear of strangers.
Through it all, you stood by her. You didn’t give up on her and neither did we. Today, Ladybug isn’t just surviving — she’s thriving. She zooms on three legs. She greets visitors with a wag and a wiggle.
She’s active, affectionate, and living proof that second chances
change everything. Ladybug’s story isn’t just hers. It’s yours, and it’s the story you make possible for every animal who needs time, hope and healing.
Thank you for being the difference.
From January to March 2025...
6,178 Hours
volunteered, including Ladybug’s foster volunteers.
3,128 Participants
in youth programs.
332 Participants
in adult programs.
You are Here When It Matters Most
No Matter the Season
It’s mid-summer and kitten season is in full swing.
From spring through summer, we see a sharp rise in the number of cats and kittens needing help. This year is no different — litters of kittens are here, some with their mothers, and many without.
These kittens need close attention and care, and fortunately they are adopted quickly. While the kittens are a handful, they also create a surprising challenge for older pets or pets with special needs, as the wealth of kitten cuteness may cause adopters to overlook an older animal or a pet with medical needs.
We ensure every animal in our care receives the attention and support they need. Foster families open their homes and hearts for newborn kittens and their mommas, providing warmth and comfort around-the-clock. They juggle the demands of work, family and late-night care, making sure every fragile life has a fighting chance. It’s rewarding, emotional and, at times, exhausting.
Recently, a kind neighbour brought in a young momma cat who was just about ready to have her kittens. She gave birth to seven kittens, and sadly three didn’t survive. The remaining four were healthy yet vulnerable. Momma nursed them attentively. The kittens latched well. Slowly, they gained strength and they began to thrive under the watchful eye of their mom, the shelter staff and the foster caregiver. Today, that little family is doing well — because someone cared enough to act.
Your support makes stories like this possible. You support daily food and love, veterinary checkups, foster supplies and critical care. You also help tackle the root causes by supporting our spay/neuter efforts for homeless, owned and feral cats alike. Together, we’re not just responding to kitten season — we’re working to stop it.
You Are Here When It Matters Most
No Matter the Season
It’s mid-summer and kitten season is in full swing.
From spring through summer, we see a sharp rise in the number of cats and kittens needing help. This year is no different — litters of kittens are here, some with their mothers, and many without.
These kittens need close attention and care, and fortunately they are adopted quickly. While the kittens are a handful, they also create a surprising challenge for older pets or pets with special needs, as the wealth of kitten cuteness may cause adopters to overlook an older animal or a pet with medical needs.
We ensure every animal in our care receives the attention and support they need. Foster families open their homes and hearts for newborn kittens and their mommas, providing warmth and comfort around-the-clock. They juggle the demands of work, family and late-night care, making sure every fragile life has a fighting chance. It’s rewarding, emotional and, at times, exhausting.
Recently, a kind neighbour brought in a young momma cat who was just about ready to have her kittens. She gave birth to seven kittens, and sadly three didn’t survive. The remaining four were healthy yet vulnerable. Momma nursed them attentively. The kittens latched well. Slowly, they gained strength and they began to thrive under the watchful eye of their mom, the shelter staff and the foster caregiver. Today, that little family is doing well — because someone cared enough to act.
Your support makes stories like this possible. You support daily food and love, veterinary checkups, foster supplies and critical care. You also help tackle the root causes by supporting our spay/neuter efforts for homeless, owned and feral cats alike. Together, we’re not just responding to kitten season — we’re working to stop it.