News

The Ottawa Humane Society is inviting the community to fall in love with Ottawa’s homeless animals. On Sunday, Feb. 11, Tails of Love, a sweet event for the whole family, is happening at the OHS. From 1 to 4 p.m. lots of family fun is planned for the day including:

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Applications are open for the Ottawa Humane Society’s board of directors until March 22, 2024. The board will play a key role in supporting the OHS as it embarks on its five-year strategic plan in supporting Ottawa’s pets and their people.

The OHS is recruiting for three board positions whose term will begin in September 2024.

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February is Black History Month. Last year, we shared the contributions of Dr. Lila Miller — the mother of shelter medicine — and how she made strides in advancing veterinary care standards for homeless animals.

We’ve also explored the work of Dr. William Key who, alongside his horse, Beautiful Jim Key, was a pioneer in the humane education movement — instilling in the next generation a sense of compassion and responsibility towards animals.

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The Ottawa Humane Society is launching a special webinar series, Anxiety and Pets: The Essentials, to help pet owners better understand what makes pets anxious and stressed.

The pandemic limited opportunities for families to train and socialize their pets — this webinars series will help pet owners bridge the gap.

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The OHS is sometimes referred to as the “dog and cat society” (and we might add rabbit to that these days), given that those species account for the majority of the animals who come into our care. But our mission is, actually, focused on all animals. And today, we must speak up for horses.

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The temperature is expected to plummet this week, and the Ottawa Humane Society is warning pet owners about the dangers cold weather can pose to pets — especially cats allowed to roam outdoors.

The OHS is encouraging members of the public who find stray cats in the cold to contact 613-725-3166 ext. 223 to ensure the cat can return home safely or to arrange for the cat to be brought to the OHS. If a cat is in danger, call Ottawa By-law Services at 3-1-1.

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The third Monday of January is also known as Blue Monday or the most depressing day of the year. In the 2000s, a travel company coined the date, possibly in a bid to sell more vacations.

The science behind Blue Monday being the most depressing day of the year is dubious, but I can’t deny that January simply feels like a sad month, at least in Canada. The days are short and cold, holiday cheer has dried up, and some resolutions for the new year may already feel impossible to reach, or a cumbersome burden.

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A new year is here, and I don’t know about you, but I’m looking forward to an excellent year for Ottawa and our community’s animals. I understand I might be somewhat alone in my optimism. Between the worries of pet owners who are concerned that finances may drive them and their pets apart, Ontario struggling to provide effective protections against animal cruelty and neglect, and surges of pets in need arriving at the OHS, it’s easy to be apprehensive about what’s to come in 2024.

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Merry Christmas from the OHS team and Ottawa’s homeless animals! I hope the day has brought you and your family warmth, love and joy.

On top of the usual holiday cheer, I’m grateful for the support of our caring community and our dedicated staff and volunteers who ensure that Ottawa’s animals receive the care they need every day of the year.

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When the pandemic struck Canada in 2020, the number of animals in our care severely dipped as we focused on ensuring we were available for animals who needed us urgently.

Since then, our population has been steadily climbing back to pre-pandemic numbers. Although we’re not there yet, we will be soon, and we have recently seen a trend in our intake that is concerning.

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