FAQs

Where are you located?

We are located at 245 West Hunt Club Rd. We’re across the street from the Lowe’s. Just turn at the lights between the Lexus and Audi dealerships on West Hunt Club Road.

How much does it cost to adopt a pet?

The adoption fees are as follows:

Please note: all dogs and cats must be registered with the City of Ottawa. You will be required to purchase a pet registration tag at the time of adoption.

For cats and dogs: These costs include a health check, initial deworming and vaccination, and permanent microchip identification.

All dogs are temperament assessed prior to being placed for adoption.

All cats, dogs and rabbits are spayed/neutered before adoption.

All small mammals are health checked prior to being placed for adoption. Second hand enclosures are available for small mammals at reasonable rates.

Why does it cost so much to adopt?

We are often asked why we don’t give away free dogs, free cats, free rabbits, and other free companion animals. At first this may seem like a great idea: free pets means more families will be able to afford a homeless animal.

However, having a pet costs money. A free kitten from a friend of a friend is hard to resist. However, that kitten needs to be health checked by your veterinarian, dewormed, vaccinated, and spayed. A free puppy from the newspaper needs the same. How much are you really saving?

Below we have compared the market price of common needs of a new pet, versus what is included in the dog and cat adoption fees at the OHS. We think you’ll agree that adopting a pet from the OHS offers great savings!

Adoption bonus! When you adopt from the OHS, you will also receive support to help ensure a smooth integration of your new pet into your home, including an OHS health guarantee, access to free or discounted vet services, and pet store retail coupons to help you set your new pet up for success!

Health guarantee: Our 14-day health guarantee ensures that you can call or email us immediately if there is a problem. Contact tech@ottawahumane.ca or 613-725-3166 ext. 229.

Retail coupon: Our retail adoption partners provide a minimum $25 coupon to support new adopters with their initial post-adoption retail purchases.

Post-adoption vet care: Our cat adopters receive coupons from local veterinary clinics of up to $250 in post-adoption veterinary care!

Total average value of adoption: $1,300!

How many pets do you adopt?

Every day animals at the Ottawa Humane Society find new homes. Each year the Society finds homes for more than 4,000 cats, dogs and small domestic pets. We are proud of our efforts and are committed to placing 100 per cent of adoptable animals into new, loving homes.

Where do your animals come from?

Lost or stray animals and pets surrendered by their owners make up the majority of the animals received at the OHS. If you have lost or found an animal, please visit the Lost and Found section of our website for more information and instruction.

What's the adoption process like?

As your local humane society, we have a responsibility to place animals in suitable environments that will promote loving bonds between adopters and their pets. Through our adoption process, we will help you find the right pet for you, the one that fulfills your expectations, and suits your lifestyle. An adoption counsellor will guide you to ensure that the adoption experience will prove positive for both you and your new companion animal. The long-term well-being of the animals in our care is our main concern; therefore, not all adoption requests may be successful.

As part of the process potential adopters are asked to complete a questionnaire. This questionnaire will supply the adoption counsellor with information about you, your lifestyle, and the type of pet you are looking for.

The adoption agreement you sign when you adopt an animal will clearly explain your obligations and responsibilities when you adopt an animal from us.

What do I need to bring with me to complete an adoption?

For all adoptions, you will need to provide a piece of photo identification for yourself with your current address. If you have recently moved, a piece of photo identification along with a utility bill, your lease or a bank statement will suffice.

Consent must be obtained from all adults in the home. It is strongly recommended that all adults meet the animal to avoid any possible returns of the animal. Consent may be obtained over the phone, via e-mail or text message.

Where roommates are involved, it must be clear who the actual adopter is (that is, who will ultimately be responsible for the animal’s care).

Dogs and cats must go home wearing a proper collar. If you do not bring a collar with you at the time of adoption, you may purchase one at the OHS.

Cats, small animals and birds must go home in an appropriate carrier. If you do not bring one with you at the time of adoption, you may purchase one at the OHS.

** Dogs need to also have a leash. All of these items can be purchased at the Buddy & Belle Boutique  with all proceeds going back to the animals.

How do you decide who is adoptable?

Our goal is to place 100 per cent of the pets received at our shelter. This can be quite a challenge because we accept all companion animals brought to us regardless of their health or behaviour. Animals placed for adoption need to be in good health and must be able to adapt to the shelter environment. Pets with a history of aggression or that show signs that they are likely to be dangerous in a variety of settings are generally not suitable for our adoption program.

Animals that do not adjust to the shelter environment for whatever reason, are typically highly stressed, much more susceptible to becoming ill and more likely to demonstrate aggressive behaviour. Sadly, this often makes them unadoptable. While our team of animal health professionals ensure every medical option within our resources is explored in order to save an ill or injured animal, we also believe that it is not humane to keep an animal in a state of physical or emotional suffering when its prognosis is poor.

How long do you keep animals?

We keep all healthy, adoptable animals as long as it takes to find them a new home. For some animals this can mean living at the shelter for six weeks or more until the right home is available. The length of stay for animals varies. No animal is ever euthanized due to lack of space or because the animal has simply been here too long.

What if I'm looking for a specific type of pet?

If you’ve visited  our website or Adoption Centre but haven’t found just the right pet for you, we may be able to help you through our Concierge program.

The Adoption Concierge Program is an exciting matching program that will help interested adopters find the perfect canine companions to match their home and lifestyle.  Clients interested in adopting a specific type of animal, where “type” refers to general characteristics of an animal (i.e. age, size, coat length) and not to a specific breed (i.e. Poodle, Labradoodle, etc), may join the Adoption Concierge Program to allow the OHS to find a suitable match for them.  Once a questionnaire has been submitted, OHS adoption counselors will begin the search for a match.  After a match has been made, potential adopters will have their very own meet and greet with the animal and decide if their home will be this pet’s forever home.

How does it work

• When a match is found for you, we will contact you.  If we reach you and you are interested in meeting the animal, we will place it on hold for you until the end of the next day to meet with the animal. If we cannot reach you, we will leave a message and continue to hold the animal until the end of the next day to give you the opportunity to respond. If we do not hear from you within that time period, the hold will be removed and the animal will be made available to the general public.
• If you decide to meet an animal match, you will have until the end of the next day to come to the OHS. After the initial meeting, should you need an additional day to prepare or meet adoption requirements, you may place the animal on hold for an additional day. There is no charge for this additional hold through the Adoption Concierge Program.
• While we receive and care for hundreds of animals every month, we cannot predict the types and personalities of animals we receive. We want to make the right match for both you and the animal so we cannot guarantee that we will find a match while your file is active.
• While your file will remain active for three months during the length of the program, there is no limit to the number of times that you may renew it. Requests for renewal must be made in advance of the expiration of your Adoption Concierge Program file.
• We ask that you let us know if you find a pet through other means so that we can remove your paperwork from our files.

Contact the Adoption Centre at 613-725-3166 ext. 258 or adoptions@ottawahumane.ca for more information.

Do you require spaying or neutering of adopted cats and dogs?

Yes! We are committed to ending pet over-population and consider spaying and neutering one solution to this tragic problem. The OHS in-house veterinary clinic’s main goal is to spay or neuter all shelter cats and dogs prior to putting them up for adoption.

Do you adopt out animals with special needs?

We do! Just like their human companions, our animal friends may have health or behavioural challenges that may need a little extra TLC. And, just like you and me, these unique characteristics shouldn’t stop these pets from living a happy life surrounded by the love of a forever family.

Could a pet with special needs be right for you?

You may be a perfect match to provide a bright future to a wonderful new companion. You may be surprised to learn about some of the needs that make these pets special:

• Animals with food allergies may simply need a prescription diet that may cost a little more than a standard diet.
• Behaviour issues may just mean that an owner will need more time for training.
• Senior pets may simply need more regular trips to the veterinarian to help keep them healthy, and they may not have the same activity level a young animal would.
• Some animals have chronic but manageable health conditions that require them to be on medication to stay healthy, either on an ongoing basis, or when their condition flares up. Examples include chronic ear or eye infections, or some skin conditions.
• Occasionally, animals have resolvable medical issues that require intervention that the OHS has not been able to provide.

Contact us to discuss the special needs of the animal you’re thinking of adopting. Once you know more about the animal’s needs, we encourage you to talk to your veterinarian about what those needs mean so you can decide whether that pet is the right match for you.

Foster-Me-First Program

Occasionally, an animal may be almost ready for adoption, but is receiving treatment from a veterinarian and therefore isn’t ready for general adoption. Because these animals typically recover more quickly in a home environment, it is beneficial to get them into that environment as quickly as possible.

Under the Foster-Me-First Program, these animals may be fostered by families for the duration of treatment, then the adoption can be finalized when the animal is medically sound. These adoptions may be considered where:

The animal is otherwise ready for adoption, except for a time-limited, outstanding medical need such as:

a. The animal is on a course of antibiotics or other medication but is showing improvement
b. The animal requires a veterinary exam within a specified period of time to ensure it has completely recovered from an illness/injury

Animals with chronic health issues that cannot be resolved, or are not expected to resolve within a reasonable time frame (for example, chronic upper respiratory illness) will not be considered for the Foster-Me-First program but rather the OHS special needs adoption program.

The OHS will be responsible for veterinary costs, special food, medication, and all medical decisions while the animal is being fostered. Animals remain the property of the OHS during the foster period. Participating families are expected to bring their foster animal into the OHS clinic for any ongoing exams or treatments until it is medically cleared and the final adoption occurs.

Families who want to adopt an animal in the Foster-Me-First program must be approved to adopt the animal before the foster placement, in keeping with all adoption conditions. Final adoption occurs when the animal is medically cleared for adoption, at which point the adopter will finalize all standard adoption procedures, including payment of the full adoption fee.

Are there laws in Ottawa about having pets?

Yes! You should be aware of the City of Ottawa’s Animal Care and Control Bylaws and your responsibilities as a pet owner. Visit the city’s website for more information.

What if I have challenges when I bring my new pet home?

Check out our pet tips page for solutions to common problems. We also have trained personnel on staff to answer questions you may have about your new pet. They can be reached at adoptions@ottawahumane.ca or 613-725-3166 ext. 258.

As well, the OHS has numerous informational brochures and fact sheets available to provide you with resource material. Call 613-725-3166 ext. 223 or stop by the OHS for a copy.

Are you a "no-kill" animal shelter?

The term “no-kill” is a misleading term. Most no-kill shelters select the types of animals they take in, bypassing those that are ill or of poor temperament or health. In order for the OHS to be considered no-kill we would have to limit the types and numbers of animals we accept. The OHS is an open admission animal shelter that offers shelter and care to animals regardless of age, health, temperament, or space available.

Does the OHS euthanize animals?

Yes. Sadly, euthanasia is part of the work we do. As an open admission shelter, the OHS does not turn any animal away, regardless of its health or behaviour. The OHS only euthanizes animals who are injured or ill — with no reasonable chance of recovery or whose needs are greater than our resources – or animals that are aggressive/overly dominant or have an unstable temperament, based on their history or as observed in the shelter or behaviour issues that we do not have the resources to resolve.

We do not euthanize animals because they have been here too long or solely based on space constraints. No healthy, adoptable animal is ever euthanized. Unfortunately, some animals become highly stressed in a shelter environment, which makes them more susceptible to illness and, despite aggressive veterinary treatment, unlikely to recover from such illness. The OHS will not keep an animal in a state of suffering when its prognosis is poor or when it lacks the resources to restore the animal’s health.

What kind of food do you feed the dogs and cats at the shelter, and do you need any?

As a shelter partner, we are exclusively feeding Hill’s® Science Diet® to all the animals in our care. We do purchase special food for animals with allergies or other health issues. To donate an item and help the animals in our care, please check our Wish List.

Can you recommend a veterinarian for me to see?

Please check the Yellow Pages or search online for veterinary clinics in your community.  Alternatively, you can visit the College of Veterinarians of Ontario website for a list of vets in your area.

How do I report animal neglect or cruelty?

If you have a concern about animal cruelty or neglect, please call 1-833-9ANIMAL. In emergency situations please call 911.

I found an animal. What should I do?

If you have found an animal, you cannot simply keep it. There may be a distraught family looking for their lost pet. You can notify us that you have found an animal by completing our online Found Animal Report or by sending us an email. As well, advertise online, in the free ‘found’ section of the newspaper, put up posters in your neighbourhood, and bring the animal to our shelter or a veterinary clinic to scan for a microchip implant. If you are unable to search for or have no luck locating the owner, please bring the animal to the Municipal Animal Shelter at the Ottawa Humane Society.

I've lost my pet. What do I do?

If you have lost an animal, please fill in our Lost Animal Report or send us an email. Please remember that the OHS receives thousands of lost animals every year. Submitting a complete lost report will help us to quickly identify some animals. If you are able to e-mail a digital picture, this will help us further, but many animals look alike.

Visit our Lost and Found page for more information on finding your lost pet.

Who do I call when I see a loose dog in my neighbourhood?

The City of Ottawa’s By-law Services manage stray dogs in the city. They can be reached by phone at 3-1-1.

What do I do when I find a dead animal?

Different regulations apply to dead animals, depending on where the animal was found, and what kind of animal it is. If the animal’s owner is not known, and the animal is on public property (such as the street or in a park), contact the City of Ottawa at 3-1-1. If the animal is on private property, please phone us at 613-725-3166 ext. 223 for instructions.

When there is the need to euthanize an animal, what happens to its remains?

The Ottawa Humane Society respects the bond people have for animals, and knows that it continues even when the pet is no longer alive. Under no circumstances do we release any animal remains to rendering plants or for medical research. The remains are respectfully buried.

Do you sell animals for scientific experimentation?

Under no circumstances does the Ottawa Humane Society ever give an animal for research. 

Does the OHS accept donations of used stuffed toys for your animals?

Thank you for your kind offer but unfortunately stuffed toys are not good for our animals. Dogs may rip apart and ingest the stuffing and material, leading to potential medical complications. Dogs should only play with stuffed toys under human supervision. As well, the ripped stuffing can clog our drains! If you would like to donate something to help the animals in our care, please check the Wish List.

What is the difference between you and other animal welfare organizations that solicit funds from me?

While some animal welfare organizations work to help all kinds of animals, what sets the OHS apart from national and international animal welfare organizations is that we operate the largest shelter in Ottawa that receives and houses animals locally. The OHS works directly with members of the community to find homes for homeless pets, help increase the value of companion animals, stop abuse and neglect, and solve training and behaviour difficulties. 

If I make a gift to a national organization, do you receive a portion of my donation?

No. The OHS is a non-profit independent organization funded by donations for animal welfare work in Ottawa. Funding for the OHS’s services and programs is received in the form of cash donations, bequests, trusts, and fees.

Do volunteers do more than one thing?

Absolutely. We have volunteers working in our offices, walking dogs, assisting with special events, supporting our outreach programs, and more. We encourage volunteers to help out in programs that they are passionate about and best suit their skill set and availability. The volunteer department will work closely with volunteers to ensure that the volunteer opportunity is a match. Visit our volunteer page to read more about our current volunteer opportunities!

How do I become a volunteer?

We ask volunteer candidates to review the volunteer section on our website and follow the application instructions. All volunteer candidates are asked to complete the application form available on the website and return it to the OHS. Volunteers matching the requirements for OHS volunteer programming will be contacted for an interview. Following the interview, volunteers will be asked to complete a criminal record check, and are scheduled for an orientation.

Do volunteers receive orientation?

All volunteers must attend a volunteer orientation prior to commencing volunteer duties. Some programs also have program specific orientations that must also be attended prior to volunteering.

Why must I obtain a criminal record check before beginning my volunteer duties?

Volunteers play a strong role within the OHS. They are working in a variety of capacities and many include working with vulnerable populations such as children, seniors and animals. In addition, we work hard to ensure the safety of the OHS community, which includes the animals, volunteers, staff, and the Ottawa community. Criminal record checks are a measure in place to uphold this high level of safety. If volunteers are working with our children’s camp program, they are required to apply for a police records check, ensuring they are safe to work with the vulnerable sector.

I want to try volunteering once or twice to see if I like it. Is that OK?

We ask our volunteers to make a commitment of at least one year. Due to limited resources, we do not have the ability to provide training to volunteers who are unable to commit for at least one year. While we rely heavily on the skills and experiences that volunteers bring to the organization, we also train new volunteers. As a result, the training and experience gained in an OHS volunteer role is invaluable to the organization. It is very difficult to sustain well-trained and experienced volunteers if they are leaving frequently.

Can I complete my high school cooperative education placement at the OHS?

Unfortunately, we do not have a program established to accommodate high school cooperative education placements. Our volunteer programs require a significant amount of experience and training and we do not have the resources to offer training to students who will be leaving after a short period of volunteer work.

My child is under 18 and wants to volunteer. Can I volunteer alongside them?

We cannot accommodate supervised parent-child volunteer placements for health and safety reasons. We do have a youth volunteer program available for youth ages 14-18, working with our camp programs. Learn more about these opportunities. For those under the age of 14, the OHS does have many other exciting and educational programs and services to offer.

Can I complete my high school community service hours at the OHS?

High school community service hours can be completed through our youth volunteer program. Outside of this program, we do not offer any other opportunities for students to complete their community service hours. Our general volunteer programs require a significant amount of experience and training and we do not have the resources to offer training to students who will be leaving after a short period of volunteer work.

Looking for other ways to help? We always need volunteers to hold events to help raise funds for the animals in our care.

Is it okay to volunteer so I can adopt an animal?

An important part of volunteering at the OHS is a personal commitment to the animals. One of the forms this can take is fostering and adopting the animals in our care. While it is important to support volunteers in this, it is important to recognize that volunteering at the OHS can be emotionally overwhelming and can lead to an unrealistic urge to save every animal through an over commitment or ill-considered fostering and/or adoption commitment. It is equally important that we are accountable for our decisions and the disposition of animals. To encourage responsible adoptions, Volunteers must complete a probationary period of six months before adopting an animal.

Can foster volunteers adopt their foster animals?

The foster volunteer program has two primary goals — to provide temporary care for OHS animals and to assist those animals in becoming ready for adoption. Foster volunteers are not permitted to adopt their foster animals for the following reasons:

For the fostered animal: The OHS has committed to placing all adoptable animals in a home that is the best possible home for their unique needs. The selection criteria for volunteering at the OHS are not the same as for adopting. As a result, the foster volunteer may not be the best match for the dog or cat, and in fact, frequently isn’t.

For the foster family: Being a foster volunteer can be a very emotional experience. On the whole, foster volunteers are compassionate people who can easily become attached and feel that they are the only ones who can take proper care of the animal. Not all animals improve or even survive in the foster home. Bringing the animal back after the foster period is over can evoke feelings of loss and guilt in the volunteer. Guilt and loss are not a good basis for an adoption decision. To help ease this, the OHS takes the option of adoption off the table.

For the integrity of the OHS: People visit the OHS with the expectation that they have a fair chance to adopt a suitable pet. Some will make a specific adoption request and wait for an extended period of time for the best possible match to become available. In many, if not most, cases, there is a family waiting to adopt each foster animal, a family that is a better match than the foster home, as they have been screened and matched with that particular pet.

For resource reasons: The OHS invests heavily in our volunteers, through somewhat lengthy training and on-going support. Losing a foster volunteer has an impact on the program and the number of animals we can rehabilitate. Those that foster once or twice and adopt use up resources that could be better spent on providing care for more animals. By remaining in the foster program, foster volunteers can help many more animals become healthy and adoptable.

Why does the OHS provide proxy forms for its annual general meeting?

A proxy vote allows another person to vote on a member’s behalf, with his/her permission, and the OHS provides proxy forms to all members so that those who are unable to attend the meeting in person may exercise his/her vote.

See more information on OHS membership.

How do I know if giving up my pet is the best option?

Giving up a pet is a hard decision. Contact us, we will help you explore some options and help you decide what’s best for you and your pet.

Call us at 613-725-3166 ext. 223 or email intake@ottawahumane.ca

Can I re-home my pet on my own instead of going to the OHS?

We encourage you to try finding a new home for your pet. We have helpful tips to set your pet and their new family up for success.

How do I surrender my pet to the OHS?

Start by contacting us. We can discuss your options and book an appointment to bring your pet to the OHS.

Call us at 613-725-3166 ext. 223 or email intake@ottawahumane.ca

Why do I need an appointment to bring an animal to the OHS?

We’re always ready for animals in emergency situations, but we might make an appointment for healthy animals who are safe in their homes. Appointments allow us to prepare for the animal’s arrival, better meet their needs and ensure we have resources for the animals who can’t wait.

If I surrender my pet, will the OHS euthanize her?

We never euthanize a healthy, adoptable animal. Humane euthanasia is only considered for pets with severe medical or behaviour issues that we don’t have the resources to help, and is the best option to keep the pet from suffering.

What happens after I surrender my pet?

First we will assess them and take care of any medical or behavioural needs they have (including spay/neuter and microchip). They may stay in a foster home before getting ready for adoption.

Can I get my pet back?

When you surrender your pet, you won’t be able to get them back. It’s not in the pet’s best interest to return to a family who is no longer able to care for them.

Will I be banned from adopting in the future?

Surrendering does not ban you from adopting another animal. Bringing your pet to the OHS when you can no longer care for them is a very responsible decision. When you’re ready, we’re happy to help you find a new pet.

Can I get updates on my pet?

Giving up a pet doesn’t erase the love and care you have for them. You are more than welcome to contact us for updates.

Call us at 613-725-3166 ext. 223 or email intake@ottawahumane.ca

Can you tell me who adopts my pet?

Due to privacy reasons, we cannot share any information about who or where your surrendered pet was adopted to.