You Won’t Believe What We Did Today
Every year on World Spay Day, I have the honour of working with our incredible veterinary team to take on a spay/neuter marathon.
Today, we sterilized 30 cats and dogs in the care of our community rescue partners.
Spay/neuter is an essential tool in animal welfare. This effort represents protection for the animals today and means that fewer pets will suffer from homelessness in the future.
At the Ottawa Humane Society, every cat, dog and rabbit adopted from our shelter is sterilized before going home. This ensures they are ready for their forever family and that no unexpected litters will follow. Spay/neuter prepares homeless pets for a bright, stable future.
Each year, we see the heartbreaking impact of accidental litters. Kittens born outdoors with no one to care for them are one of the greatest sources of animal suffering in our community. The good news is that this is a problem we can fix.
Sterilization breaks the cycle of pet homelessness and protects the health of animals today. Spaying eliminates the risk of life-threatening uterine infections like pyometra and significantly reduces the risk of certain cancers. Neutering can reduce roaming and curb behaviours that can strain the human-animal bond. Pets who are spayed/neutered tend to live longer, healthier lives.
That’s why we are working hard to expand access to this essential service.
Through our Community Spay/Neuter Service, we provide low-cost spay/neuter surgeries for income-qualified cat owners in Ottawa. By making these surgeries more accessible, we are helping keep pets in loving homes while preventing future litters that could end up in shelters.
If your pet is not yet spayed or neutered, I urge you to speak with your veterinarian. And if you’re able, consider supporting the OHS so we can continue to expand this life-saving work.
Together, we can break the cycle of pet homelessness and build a healthier, more humane community for animals and the people who love them.
Dr. Shelley Hutchings
Chief Veterinarian