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When I take my little shih tzu, Pepper, for a walk, we move quite slowly because he’s 12 years old. At the patch of grass by the end of the drive, I throw a few treats for him to find with his nose. Then we move on down the street, pausing often for him to sniff. Many dogs walk along the street every day so there are always lots of smells for him to take in. There’s a line of trees whose branches reach down close to the ground, just at his nose height, where he seems to sniff every needle on the tree. Despite the slow pace, he loves these short walks.

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You may have missed it, but last Monday was the day known as Blue Monday. Marked on the third Monday in January, Blue Monday is a 2005 calculation of a number of factors which supposedly make it the most depressing day of the year.

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The Association of Professional Dog Trainers has declared January to be National Train Your Dog Month – a month dedicated to sharing information about the importance of dog training. Of course, for dog trainers, every month is dog training month – training hardly ends after one month – but the more opportunities to contribute to these important conversations the better.

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As the temperature plummets, the Ottawa Humane Society is warning pet owners about the dangers cold weather can pose to pets — especially cats allowed to roam outdoors.

The OHS is encouraging members of the public who find stray cats in the cold to contact 613-725-3166 ext. 221 to ensure the cat can return home safely or to arrange for the cat to be brought to the OHS.

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I don’t think any of us thought we would be returning to Stage 2 this year, and it’s a bit dishearteningly familiar. At the OHS, we have had to put our plans for the relaunch of our in-person programming on hold for now, but of course we’re maintaining services for the animals who really need us.

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On the first day of 1942, in the midst of another tremendous global struggle, on a train speeding between Ottawa and Washington, Winston Churchill called his staff and reporters into the dining car to make a toast:

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In 1897, Francis Pharcellus Church, an editorial writer for the New York Sun, wrote an iconic response to a letter from eight-year-old Virginia O’Hanlon. Virginia wanted to know if there is a Santa Claus. I hope Mr. Church will forgive me for taking liberties with his work.

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In late November, Bosley, a senior Rottweiler-hound mix, was found abandoned in an outdoor dog enclosure at the Ottawa Humane Society.

After admitting Bosley, OHS staff soon discovered that he was suffering from a potentially life-threatening condition known as a bilateral perineal hernia. The condition is treatable, but requires intensive care and a specialized surgery — the total cost of Bosley’s care will be more than $6,500.

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I’ve been at the office since the onset of the pandemic. I’m just not a work-from-home guy. I’m an extrovert, and so I get energy from the people around me. I have to tell you, there is no stronger energy than that which comes from the people I work with at the Ottawa Humane Society.

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As the temperature falls, the Ottawa Humane Society is warning pet owners about the dangers cold weather can pose to pets — especially cats allowed to roam outdoors.

“Every year, cats left out in the cold suffer from frostbite and other injuries, and are brought to the OHS,” said Bruce Roney, OHS President & CEO. “A cat’s situation can change quickly in extreme weather — what was once an enjoyable stroll can become a matter of life and death with little warning.”

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