Working for a Cause
This summer, more students in Ottawa grappled with a higher unemployment rate and rightfully felt some major frustration. We’re doing our part, employing 11 young people to help coordinate our summer camps and bringing on four positions through Canada Summer Jobs to work directly with the animals.
This week, I had the opportunity to show Prime Minister Mark Carney around the OHS and introduce him to our team members who joined us through the Canada Summer Jobs program. Our goal is to involve even more young people through the program to help secure more second chances and keep more pets with the families who love them.
Just last year, I wrote about how a shortage of veterinary professionals forced us to make tough decisions around where to direct our resources. This year, as expected, the situation has stayed largely the same.
Through the support of the Canada Summer Jobs program, we welcomed four students into key roles at the shelter. These positions are essential in caring for the thousands of animals who come through our doors every summer.
Akira joined our team this summer through the Canada Summer Jobs program. She works directly with our veterinary team. Akira helps examine incoming animals, administer vaccines and medication, and care for sick and injured pets — including the many litters of kittens who arrive, sometimes orphaned and desperately in need of help. Her work has been vital in supporting the OHS’s mission and the animals who rely on us every day.
Even with this additional support, our community’s need for services that help keep pets with their loving families is outpacing our resources. We feel this pinch greatest in our Mobile Spay/Neuter Services. A lack of veterinary professionals has greatly hampered our efforts to provide accessible spay/neuter services for Ottawa’s cat owners. If you or someone you know has veterinary experience and wants to help keep pets with the families who love them, please consider joining the team. We have the tables and equipment ready to go, but we need staff to run the service.
Whether staff, volunteers, adopters, advocates or supporters of all stripes, it is people who make life-saving shelter and care possible and help build the next generation who will make a kinder world for the animals.
Sharon Miko
President & CEO