You Made It Possible: A Year of Care

Each year, when we put together our annual report, I’m struck by the same overwhelming feeling: gratitude.

It takes a community to make sure life-saving shelter and care is always available for animals in need. People who volunteer, donate, adopt, speak up, and work hard for the animals help make Ottawa a more humane and compassionate community.

Thank you.

Our 2024–25 annual report is live, and in its pages is a story of success and care that was only possible because Ottawa is a community that values animals and compassion.

You can read the full report online and see the essential, life-saving care that you made possible.

You Kept Pets With the People Who Love Them

Through the OHS Emergency Pet Food Bank, we saw just how many families are trying to hold onto their beloved pets during tough times. Through pop-up pet food banks, we brought essential supplies directly into the community where the need was greatest. These events distributed hundreds of pounds of pet food in just a few hours, making sure no pet owner ever has to choose between feeding themselves or their pet.

We also reimagined our SAFE program, offering longer-term support to people in crisis, so they don’t have to choose between their well-being and their pet’s safety. Thanks to the dedication of our incredible foster volunteers and 40 new foster volunteers who stepped up for this program alone, we’ve been able to keep more families together than ever before.

One area we didn’t see the progress we hoped for was the number of owned cats in Ottawa helped through our spay/neuter service. Staffing was the biggest barrier, a challenge facing many organizations helping animals throughout Canada.

However, we were able to offer more wellness clinics which have seen a rapidly growing need over the past two years.