Blog | Ottawa Humane Society

Calling Bull on PBR

In June, Professional Bull Riders (PBR) will trundle into Ottawa, bringing with them cruel exploitation of bulls for entertainment and profit. In PBR’s display of complete disregard for animal well-being, bulls will be mounted with a flank strap tightened around their lower bellies and forced to flail in distress while a crowd roars, music blares and bright lights flash.

At the OHS, we’re asking the community to not attend or support the event and to sign a petition showing that Ottawa does not want PBR or events like it to return.

Everyone Wants to Know: Where Will You be in Five Years?

I’ve already talked about how much I love plans, so it’ll be no surprise that I am beyond thrilled to share our new five-year strategic plan! Our focus: saving more animals by helping at both ends of the leash.

Last fall, Ottawa shared with us what’s needed to help pet owners and better support all animals in our community. It’s clear that in our current times of rapid change and uncertainty, we must be able to adapt nimbly and quickly, to meet our shifting environment and help more animals and the people who love them.

A Win for Farm Animals in Ontario

Silence is a killer of animal welfare, and silence is what Ontario introduced last year with Bill 156, the so-called Security from Trespass and Protecting Food Safety Act. Thinly veiled as a means to protect biosecurity on farms, the bill targets people who report animal abuse in the farming industry — slashing transparency and accountability for how these businesses treat their animals.

Is Ottawa Ready?

The past week, the sun has been shining, birds have been singing, people have been walking around in shorts and t-shirts, and at the OHS, we’re getting ready for a busy spring and summer. In early 2024, the OHS had already seen an unusually high, but not surprising number of animals in need. Just today, close to a dozen puppies were being scheduled for surgery! I’m expecting this trend will continue into the warmer months, with pets of all kinds needing life-saving shelter and care at the OHS.

Giving Everything for the Animals

From April 14 to 20, we are celebrating National Volunteer Week and the contributions of close to 800 volunteers who give their time, effort and heart to Ottawa’s homeless animals.

There is no question, without the support of our volunteers, the OHS would not be able to care for thousands of animals each year.

Social Work for the Animals

If you’ve ever watched someone say a final goodbye to a loved one, you’ll know how heartbreaking that is. The emotions often reserved for airports and hospital rooms are strikingly similar to those witnessed every day by the OHS admissions team. After all, pets are our family. Saying goodbye to a beloved pet is like saying goodbye to a piece of ourselves.

It Starts at Any Age

This week, we hosted a special “Help the Shelter” March Break Camp for kids. These children come to our camps with a fierce love for animals, so showing them how we can better enrich the lives of our pets has been a rewarding experience for everyone involved! These young, but dedicated campers read stories to our shelter rabbits to support their socialization, helped find families for our animals by designing adoption posters, and crafted frozen treats for our shelter dogs as we head into the warmer months.

The Hardest Choice a Family Can Make

Giving a pet away is not easy. Our team sees it every day. The family who’s moving and cannot bring their dog with them. A pet who needs extensive veterinary treatment that is out of reach for their people. A person who is facing sudden financial crisis and doesn’t know if they can afford to feed their cat or themselves. The family whose schedule became more complicated and they’re not able to be there enough for their rabbit.

The Only Way to End a Tragic Cycle

Spay/Neuter Awareness Month is coming to an end, but the importance of spaying/neutering our pets is something worth remembering year-round. This essential procedure is key to ending the tragic cycle of homeless pets in Ottawa. It also helps our pets live their best lives, preventing life-threatening illnesses like pyometra and addressing some common behaviour challenges.

Three Things I Want My New Family to Know

Stomach turning. Mind Buzzing. Brow tightening. Ears pinned down. We’ve all experienced stress and know how uncomfortable it is, but did you know stress affects pets as well?

Hi, I’m Pixie, a top dog at the Ottawa Humane Society. There are a few things that make me uneasy: being left alone; loud, sudden noises; not being able to exercise and unleash my energy; and guys named Phil.