Recently, the City of Ottawa declared intimate partner violence an epidemic. Domestic abuse and violence not only harm the people in a household, but also harm pets. The link between domestic violence against people and domestic violence against animals is well-documented and clearly established. Dayna Desmarais, executive director of the FAM Network, and Wendy Mitchells, the chapter director of Shelter Movers Ottawa, shared with us insight into the experiences of people and animals who are affected by domestic abuse and violence. As you might expect, the public health crisis was an even more ..read more

Lexie Today, we celebrated World Spay Day. I had the honour of helping to provide spay/neuter surgeries to animals in the care of some of our local partners. Thanks to the incredible support from our community, at the OHS clinic, we spayed/neutered 34 cats, 3 dogs and 3 rabbits in need.    Let me introduce you to a couple of the animals our community helped out today: Lexie is a sweet, six-month-old cat who we spayed. Blaze is a handsome six-month-old dog who we neutered.   It’s not too late, you can still give to make this essential surgery possible for Ottawa’s homeless animal ..read more

It’s a question that comes up often: what would make someone surrender their pet to the OHS? Surrender sounds like a scary thing, doesn’t it? It sounds like giving up, failing, or even leaving the pet behind — but that couldn’t be further from the truth. It may be surprising, but the decision to surrender a pet is often made out of love. Imagine these situations: An owner’s job circumstance changes, and they are no longer home often enough to meet their pet’s needs. To make sure their pet has a home prepared to meet their needs, they choose to surrender them to the OHS; A couple brings a new ..read more

I’ve said it before, but Ottawa is full of generous people who care and give to animals in need. There are a few ways that people show their support. Some make a gift whenever they are able. Others donate monthly. Younger people might run a lemonade stand or host an event at their school for the animals. A portrait of James Ito with maneki-neko (beckoning cat) a Japanese figurine which is believed to bring good luck to the owner. And there are also people who leave a gift for the animals in their will, which is a great way to build a lasting legacy. I had the honour of speaking with the nephew ..read more

“If we look at the diversity situation today and want to change it, we have to present opportunities to learn about the field and remove the barriers to joining it… We have to let people know they are welcome in the profession.” Dr. Lila Miller on encouraging more BIPOC to join the veterinary field. February is Black History Month, a time to celebrate the contributions and achievements of Black people throughout history and the many ways diversity makes us stronger. Dr. Lila Miller, also known as the mother of shelter medicine, is a veterinarian whose career is a shining example of breaking ..read more

I’m thrilled to announce that last week, we welcomed a dog from Iqaluit into our care and two more arrived yesterday. We work with our partner in Iqaluit to give these dogs a second chance in Ottawa. In their hometown, these dogs faced an uncertain future. Resources were not available to provide them with the veterinary support they need, and it is likely it would have been very difficult for them to have found a forever home. Animal transfer is an essential part of animal welfare — moving dogs from an area struggling with dog overpopulation is a natural choice. However, the decision is not w ..read more

At the Ottawa Humane Society, we never know what condition animals will be in when they come into our care, and in my near 20 years at the OHS, I have seen many things that have broken my heart. Firefighters, health care workers, police officers, shelter workers, and many other professions witness trauma regularly, as part of their day-to-day jobs. The mental toll of these occupations is a very real challenge, and that’s why I’m so excited to share with you a new program at the OHS dedicated to supporting the mental wellbeing of Ottawa’s first responders. The mental health benefits of spendin ..read more

People often ask how they can help Ottawa’s animals. Volunteering, adopting, donating or even  working at the OHS are all great ways to help out, but there’s something else you can do that is also invaluable to protecting Ottawa’s animals. You can even do it right at home. Take good care of your pets. But what does it mean to take good care of a pet? There are a few general guidelines that are typically golden advice: spay/neuter your pets, get them microchipped, make regular visits to their veterinarian, and don’t let them roam unsupervised.    Providing a balanced diet, makin ..read more

I’m sorry to say it, but 2022 ended on a sour note for animal welfare in Ontario. In late 2021, Marineland was charged for using dolphins to perform and entertain without authorization — a criminal offence since 2019. The case languished in court through most of 2022 until last month when the Crown stayed the charge. Crown prosecutor, Michal Sokolski noted in court that the case had a reasonable prospect for conviction. But the Crown decided it was not in public interest to prosecute Marineland. Sokolski stated the reasons for staying the charge included the expense and length of the trial an ..read more

“Tomorrow is the first blank page of a 365-page book. Write a good one.” Brad Paisley, American Country Singer/Songwriter Here at the Ottawa Humane Society, we are always looking to the future. We look to see how we can better serve our community and its animals and people. We make plans, launch new programs and initiatives, and generally look at how we can do things better. As it is for many, New Year’s is a particular time to look to our future, but it’s also a time to take stock of our past. If you are interested in our past as well as our future, now you can read it online. Helping Hands ..read more