Blog | Ottawa Humane Society

Lest We Forget

A few years ago I wrote the following blog, which I believe still warrants sharing this Remembrance Day.

As we prepare to honour the men and women that fought, and to remember those that gave their lives combat, we hope you will also take a moment to remember the vast numbers of animals that were killed in wartime—often suffering agonizing deaths from wounds, starvation, thirst, exhaustion, disease and exposure.

Pets are a Part of a Healthy Community Part 2

Last May I wrote about pets in the community and the OHS’s own Dog Friendly Business Program to better integrate dogs into our community, and to encourage both pet owners and non-pet owners to view pets as a positive and healthy part of our city.

Ontario’s Animal Protection Legislation

On Tuesday, the Solicitor General of Ontario unveiled her plan for new animal welfare legislation for the province. The announcement is the first step in establishing a long-term solution for protecting animals in Ontario in the wake of the Ontario SPCA suddenly relinquishing its enforcement duties.

The Good News

There has been a lot of bad news in the last year or two, and the world of animal welfare has not been immune. But this month a few pieces of good news have crossed my desk.

At the beginning of October, Trip Advisor announced it will no longer sell tickets to or make money from attractions that breed or import captive whales and dolphins.

Nasty, Brutish and Short

Yesterday was National Feral Cat Day. I hope you will take a moment to think about these neglected felines. These cats live a hard life—one that is nasty, brutish and short.

A feral cat, defined by Alley Cat Allies is, “…a cat who has either never had any contact with humans or her contact with humans has diminished over time. She is fearful of people and survives on her own outdoors.”

Give Animals a Voice When You Vote

With the federal election less than two weeks away, we can all help make sure that animals count. Thanks to the advocacy of animal welfare organizations and their supporters, the treatment and protection of animals has been prioritized by every level of government over the past few years.

Service Where it’s Needed Most

When I walk around the shelter, I see animals from all walks of life that are just trying to live their best life possible. In order to help these animals overcome the adversity with which they’ve been faced, the Ottawa Humane Society has created a new department: Intervention Services. This department complements the medical team by identifying all non-medical needs of the animals in OHS care.

We Have More Than a Moment for Seniors

I meet a lot of people in my role at the Ottawa Humane Society. And because seniors are such ardent supporters of the OHS, a disproportionate number of the people I meet and talk to are seniors.

Youth Lead the Way

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.

Everybody Needs a PAL

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 in 33 locations across the city.