Our humane education team decided to kick-start this school year by running Leadership and Education with Adolescents and Dogs (L.E.A.D.), a worthwhile community outreach initiative that has been creating positive change for both people and pets for more than ten years.
Yes, I do think everyone needs a friend, but here I mean a PAL, as in the OHS Pet Adoption Location Program that adopts pets in the care of the OHS offsite in the community. The PAL program is an enormously important part of the OHS’s ability to help animals in Ottawa. At any given time, there may be 80 or more cats and small animals spread out in33 locations across the city.
Sometimes it feels to me that everyone thinks they want to work at the Ottawa Humane Society. I say “thinks” they want to, because my experience has been that a lot of people don’t know what is expected of an OHS employee, or for that matter, any employee of a not-for-profit.
“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” Nelson Mandela
Four years ago, when the OHS was developing our five-year plan, our community of supporters told us to invest more—even double—the resources dedicated to changing the future for Ottawa’s animals. I was delighted they were so far-thinking.
You probably won’t be surprised that many of the animals that need the care of the Ottawa Humane Society are suffering. And I am sure you won’t be surprised that, too often, their suffering can be traced back to a human. The suffering may be because of something a human did: a cat allowed to roam eventually hit by a car, or a dog abused for not behaving as an owner expects.
I am well aware that many people associate the Ottawa Humane Society solely with dogs and cats. Though our Mission embraces all animals, admittedly a very large portion of our day-to-day work is with and about cats and dogs. Perhaps this is why even long time OHS supporters are sometimes surprised when I mention the little critters that we have for adoption: the gerbils, hamsters, mice, guinea pigs and rabbits in our care needing a forever home.
Helen Keller is one of my heroes. For those of you who aren’t familiar with Ms. Keller, she was an author, political activist, and lecturer in the early 20th century. She campaigned for women’s suffrage, labor rights, antimilitarism, and other progressive causes.
New York State just joined most of Western Europe, the U.K. and Australia in banning the declawing of cats, except in the case of medical necessity. Bravo New York State! Sadly, so far the practice is legal in most Canadian jurisdictions.
Television didn’t show the grisly accident. The crowd didn’t see the inevitable result because organizers blocked the view with tarps. Nonetheless three beautiful horses died on June 14.
July 15 is National Pet Fire Safety Day. It’s one of those days created to create a small buzz about an important issue. These days come and go throughout the year and they are a good cue for us at the OHS to get the word out about animal welfare issues. But for me, this year has been different
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