With the province’s announcement that Ottawa will be entering phase three of reopening, most of us are thinking about our lives returning to something that at least resembles normal. The prospect comes with equal doses of exhilaration and concern; exhilaration at doing things we have been unable to do for so long and, concern about contagion and the possibility of a new round of lockdowns if it doesn’t go well.
As the summer temperature soars, wildlife becomes more active. Humans go outdoors more and the wildlife/people conflict begins to heat up too. The most obvious sign is the carnage on our roadways that we begin to witness. The sign here at the OHS is the influx of wild animals.
There has been a great deal of coverage in the media regarding a string of attacks by one coyote in the Riverside South area. Scary-sounding headlines such as ‘’aggressive coyote problem has gone on too long’’ and ‘’coyote strikes again’’ rob us of having meaningful discussions around making communities safe while coexisting with wildlife.
When I was young, I didn’t believe politicians actually led. I didn’t believe that legislation was a particular source of change. I thought that change happened mainly in societies and later changes that were already happening were codified into law. Later, I came to understand what politicians said mattered and that laws could affect change that was not occurring in broader society.
A few weeks ago, I started receiving a lot of media calls. Almost all of them were about the pandemic puppy “problem.” I think I disappointed some of them, because I don’t think there is a pandemic puppy problem. If you haven’t followed the story, it boils down to this: thousands of people who are bored and lonely during the lockdown are rushing out to buy or adopt puppies, and when the health crisis is over, all these puppies and dogs are going to be dumped in animal shelters.
Ottawa has begun to open up because of the extraordinary measures that we have taken as a community to protect not only ourselves, but also other people. A lot of the people I know are excited about getting a haircut, going to the beach, or sitting on a patio. Small things, that, as Joni Mitchell put it, “You don’t know what you’ve got ‘til it’s gone.”
In January, I wrote a blog about the Ford government’s introduction of shameful and dangerous Bill 156, the so-called Security from Trespass and Animal Safety Act.
It appeared that the government had, sensibly, backed away from this terrible law, but this week, it decided to proceed to pass this legislation on June 15 without even a reasonable opportunity to hear the voices of Ontarians. Two days of consultations cannot seriously be considered consulting the public.
There is a joke circulating on the internet that with so many people at home during the crisis, the dogs think we have quit our jobs to spend more time with them. The cats think we were fired like the losers they always thought we were. It may not be entirely fair to cats, but it’s pretty funny anyway. My cat Gracie, the cat who must be obeyed, would like nothing more than for me to stay home to pet her all day — at least for the brief periods when she isn’t sleeping.
I always listen to CBC when I’m driving. Last week one of the segments was checking in on Canadians across the country amid the pandemic, some famous, and some just regular Canadians. One gentleman — a newcomer to Canada — was a restaurant owner. He had closed his restaurant, but was continuing to prepare and distribute 300 meals a day to front line workers.
There are many aspects of working at the Ottawa Humane Society that are rewarding, the things that make me happy and make all the work and worry worthwhile.
The happiest moment here at the OHS is when we find a forever home for an animal, a home that is the perfect match, one where she will be loved and cared for.
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