We sent a dog home with his new family yesterday, obviously a very frequent occurrence at the Ottawa Humane Society. What wasn’t maybe as frequent was the long conversation we had with the prospective family about the dog’s tendency to destroy baseboards.
Two important pieces of legislation have passed just before parliament rises for the summer and we couldn’t be happier.
The first, Bill S-203, bans the importation, capture or ownership of cetaceans (whales, dolphins and porpoises) except for their rescue or rehabilitation
In March, with just a few weeks’ notice, the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (OSPCA) announced it would no longer be enforcing animal cruelty investigations in Ontario and set a hard deadline of June 28. Since the OSPCA refused to extend the deadline until new legislation could be introduced, that deadline is fast approaching.
Over the years, the Ottawa Humane Society has thankfully seen the admission of fewer dogs. Boxes of unwanted puppies are largely a thing of the past. But while fewer dogs need our care, the extent of the care they need has increased hugely.
If you had visited the OHS on Monday, you would have seen a lot of visitors here in our shelter. CTV was here, joined by four local radio stations: Majic 100, 580 CFRA, TSN 1200 and Pure Country 94. They were here for an event calledA Day of Giving.
I have been reporting for the past while that in March, with just a few weeks’ notice, the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (OSPCA) announced it would no longer be enforcing animal cruelty investigations in Ontario and set a hard deadline for the end of June. I further reported that the OSPCA refused the province’s request to extend the work until new legislation could be introduced early next year.
I’ve been lucky to visit parts of Europe a number of times. One of the things that always strikes me is the integration of dogs into everyday life. Whether it be in an English country pub, on a subway or at a bottega in Italy, dogs are simply there, walking with their owners, or curled up under a chair. It is a fantastic sight. It’s both normal and accepted. And I have never seen it be disruptive in the least.
Starting this May, the OHS will begin placing cats that are not suited for a traditional home environment for behavior or temperament reasons into safe alternative environments through a program called working whiskers. While the majority of cats can easily live as indoor house pets, some cats in the care of the OHS are unsuitable for homes but would flourish independently in other locations, keeping busy controlling rat and mice populations.
Watching our friends and neighbours struggle to save their homes from flooding has been heartbreaking. This is especially so because many of the same people were flooded just two years ago, and some of those in West Carleton were devastated by last fall’s tornado as well.
This website uses cookies to enhance usability and provide you with a more personal experience. By using this website, you agree to our use of cookies as explained in our Privacy Policy.
