What’s the best gift you’ve ever received? Between handmade crafts and cards from my kids, and accessories from my husband that I’ve worn for decades, there are many small things that are very close to my heart.
Last week, we made a post about how we had welcomed 27 cats into our care in a single day. The story made some waves. Many people shared messages of support for our amazing team, how much they care for cats they haven’t even met, and thanked us for being there for the animals in their time of need. The story was even picked up in the news, making an appearance in the Ottawa Citizen.
I couldn’t be more thankful for all the support. I am grateful to be part of a community that cares so deeply for animals.
The issue of homeless cats is one that Ottawa and the Ottawa Humane Society have constantly grappled with.
I have seen the terrible things that happen to cats left to fend for themselves. Killed by predators, maimed by vehicles, succumbing to the elements, disease and starvation. These cats are often brought to the OHS, but often it is too late.
Simon, a tuxedo cat, was found wandering the dockyards of Hong Kong in 1948 by Seaman George Hickinbottom, a crew member of the British frigate HMS Amethyst. Simon was very undernourished and unwell, so the young sailor smuggled the cat onto the ship. The crew and officers were happy to have Simon onboard, especially because he was excellent at catching rats on the ship. Eventually, Simon became a mascot for the crew.
On behalf of the OHS Board of Directors, I would like to inform you that the successful candidate for the position of President and CEO of the Ottawa Humane Society is Sharon Miko. She is expected to begin in her new role in mid-November.
We’ve all seen it. As Halloween approaches, pictures of pets dressed up in costumes flood social media — dachshunds dressed as hot dogs, cats with wings, the creativity is abundant. I’ll admit, sometimes I have chuckled at these images, but I squirm as well. There is a certain indignity to the images. As a human adult, if I dress in a funny costume, I know that people are laughing with me, but the animals aren’t in on the joke. I know they are being laughed at.
Julie Laporte worked at the Ottawa Humane Society as a veterinary assistant beginning in 2004. She worked until she couldn’t any longer. You see, she became ill. Julie passed away from cancer on the 16th of January, 2013. She was 38. She left a husband and a small daughter behind.
In 2004, leaders in animal welfare came together to find common ground in what was a divided sector. Their meeting place was California, just outside the Asilomar State Park.
The results of this meeting were nothing short of amazing. Groups that were deeply divided and often mistrustful of one another created the groundbreaking Asilomar Accords, an agreement to, among other things find a way to report consistently on outcomes for sheltered animals in a community.
I was taking a walk around the shelter the other day and looking in at the animals in our care. It’s easy to feel badly for them, not having a home and family to call their own — a feeling that only grows stronger as the holiday season approaches.
While I wish these animals had never needed our help, I am truly thankful that they have somewhere to go when they need it most.
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