Busting a Dangerous Myth
Each summer, like clockwork, we contend with a challenging and dangerous myth. It goes like this: the Ottawa Humane Society is at capacity and not accepting animals.
The truth is the OHS doesn’t have a maximum capacity, not in a traditional sense. We never turn away animals in emergencies and healthy, adoptable animals are never euthanized — regardless of a lack of space or their length of stay.
The myth that the OHS is at capacity is dangerous because it can cause someone in crisis to not reach out to us for help. This can leave a pet without care or, in some of the most extreme and heartbreaking circumstances, abandoned.
If you see someone saying the OHS is full and not accepting any animals, please point them here. You could save a life.
However, myths often grow from a small kernel of truth. This one comes from the fact that right now, there are more than 400 animals in the shelter and our foster homes. That includes 254 cats, 108 dogs and 44 other animals. If someone needs to surrender their pet but can still continue to care for them at home, we’re asking them to hang on to their pet for a little while longer to ensure we can be here for the animals who have nowhere else to turn.
Wherever possible, we want to keep pets in the homes where they are already loved and ensure the shelter is ready for animals who have no other option. We’ve worked hard to expand support through accessible spay/neuter, wellness clinics, our pet food bank, temporary emergency boarding, and we are looking ahead to the future with a non-profit Community Veterinary Clinic.
I expect we’ll be resuming regular admissions in the coming weeks, and you can help us get there even faster. Foster volunteers for big dogs make a huge difference for large pups. Adopting a homeless animal is another excellent way to help, and it’s a win-win — you’ll get a new best friend and the OHS will be ready for the next animal in need.
No matter what, we are here and ready for the next pet in an emergency, and it’s the support of our community that makes this consistent care possible.
Sharon Miko
President & CEO