Over the years, the Ottawa Humane Society has increasingly invested in the behaviour and emotional well-being of the animals in its care. The introduction of hide and perch boxes for cats was one milestone. Daily, rotating, enrichment activities for dogs was another.
On the heels of progressive animal welfare legislation, the provincial government has introduced a new bill in the legislature that is major setback for animal welfare in Ontario.
Bill 156, the so-called Security from Trespass and Animal Safety Act is not only a major animal welfare concern, but parts of it are also alarming for anyone concerned about civil liberties in our country.
I feel like celebrating, not just for saying goodbye to 2019 and welcoming 2020, but for the Ottawa Humane Society and animal welfare. A lot has happened in 2019 and there is a lot to celebrate. Just a sampling:
One December, over twenty years ago, I was taking a break from a long afternoon of Christmas shopping. I had already hauled a load or two of purchases back to my car and was feeling tired and chilled as it was an exceptionally cold evening. I was pleased that I was almost done—only a few small things left to buy.
Among my all-time favourite movies isIt’s a Wonderful Life. I watch it every year to get me into the Christmas spirit, usually while I am wrapping presents.
Christmas is coming and Charlie, a four-year-old black cat is about to spend his second yuletide in the care of the Ottawa Humane Society. In fact, he has been in our care since June 2018.
“Harmful crimes are committed every day in the one place that everyone is entitled to feel safe – home.”
When we think about domestic violence, we often think of the people who are affected – predominantly women, seniors and children. Although we know, according to the CVMA, that “approximately 35% of Canadian households have a dog and 38% have a cat.” And according to experts, “animal abuse is present in roughly 89 per cent of domestic violence cases.”
Sentient ˈsentiənt/ (usually before noun): able to see or feel things through the senses. Early 17th century from Latin sentient- ‘feeling’, from the verb sentire. — Oxford Dictionary
I guess I live in a bit of an animal welfare “bubble.” You see, it never occurred to me that in 2019, Canadians would support a rodeo — in most parts of the country anyway. And it certainly never occurred to me that a national event on the scale of the Grey Cup would include this dated form of animal exploitation. But this Saturday, that is exactly what is happening.
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