Latest News - Ottawa Humane Society

Misinformation that Could Kill a Dog

After a relatively mild July, August is turning into a scorcher. Whenever it gets this hot, I worry about dogs — specifically dogs trapped in overheated cars. We here at the Ottawa Humane Society do our best to get the word out. This, and every summer, we launch public campaigns with dual messages: don’t leave your dog in a car; if you find a dog trapped in a car, report it immediately. This year, we even made a video. But still I worry. I have witnessed the effects of excessive heat exposure in dogs. It’s horrible.

Aug 12, 2021

Rising Temperatures Pose a Danger to Pets

High temperatures forecasted for Ottawa this week pose a great danger to pets left alone in cars, warns the Ottawa Humane Society (OHS).

“Dogs die in hot cars,” said Bruce Roney, OHS President & CEO. “Temperatures in vehicles rise extremely quickly — even with windows open. Pets can quickly overheat, leading to brain damage and even death.”

Aug 09, 2021

A Crisis in a Crisis in a Crisis

The global pandemic has created multiple crises in our community, in Canada and across the world. The OHS has not been immune — the last 16 months have felt like our work has been full of small crises.

A growing crisis at the OHS is a lack of foster homes. Foster volunteers are a large and essential element of our spectrum of care for Ottawa’s animals.

Aug 05, 2021

The Case for a Coyote as the Cat Killer

The recent reports of deceased cats were certainly unsettling to me and everyone here at the OHS. There are persistent theories that the killer is human, but the OHS has come to believe that the evidence points to the perpetrator as a coyote or coyotes. Here is the case:

Jul 29, 2021

Sunny the Puppy Needs Your Help

Earlier this month, Sunny, a five-month-old Yorkshire terrier, arrived at the OHS with a broken leg. An X-ray revealed that Sunny’s elbow had a complicated fracture and that amputating the damaged leg was in the puppy’s best interest.

Jul 26, 2021

Foster Volunteers Needed at Ottawa Humane Society

The Ottawa Humane Society is calling for more people to provide temporary homes for Ottawa’s animals by signing up for the organization’s foster volunteer program.

Jul 22, 2021

What to Expect When Leaving Your Pet Home Alone

I’m looking forward to a summer where many of us can safely return to our workplaces and reconnect with friends, family and the community at large. At the same time, I’m worried about our pets who may be unprepared for this transition.

Jul 22, 2021

Ottawa Humane Society Offers Cash Reward to Bring West End Cat Killer to Justice

The Ottawa Humane Society is offering a $5,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest of the person responsible for killing four cats in Ottawa’s west end.

Anyone with information about these incidents should contact Ottawa Police West Criminal Investigations Section at 613-236-1222 ext. 2666.

Jul 16, 2021

Standing for Something

I have always believed that organizations, especially not-for-profits and charities, need to stand for something. They need to provide informed thinking on issues within their domain. After all, if they don’t, who will? This is especially true for humane societies, most of whom for many years have used the tagline, “We speak for those who cannot speak for themselves.”

Jul 15, 2021

Ottawa Humane Society Launches Catch the Ace Raffle to Support the Animals

Ticket sales begin today for the Ottawa Humane Society’s first-ever Catch the Ace progressive jackpot raffle.

Fifty per cent of ticket sales go towards helping Ottawa’s most vulnerable animals during the public health crisis.

Jul 12, 2021