August 23, 2024

It’s Unbelievable How Long These Dogs Have Waited…

Buddy and Echo are two dogs who have both been waiting for more than 100 days for their forever home. They were here in the spring when kitten season hit a fevered pitch, and it looks like they may still be at the OHS in the fall when many of the kittens will have already gone home.  

A long wait before adoption is a challenge some animals face at the OHS. There are a few factors like behaviour, medical needs, age and even size that may affect how long it takes an animal to find their new home.

To help connect more pets in need with people ready to adopt, we’ll reach out to the community in creative ways. For example, Rabbit Week, which wrapped up just last Friday, found forever homes for 33 bunnies, some of whom had been waiting more than a year for adoption

Finding homes quickly for adoptable animals has three huge benefits:

  • Freeing up resources to allow us to assist more homeless animals in need;
  • Introducing or reintroducing the value of pet ownership to a family in the community; and,
  • Protecting the animal’s well-being.

That last point might be surprising but is particularly relevant for dogs with more complex behaviour needs. The shelter can be a very stressful and overwhelming place for an animal as there are lots of people coming and going, strange sights and smells, and lots of activity.

Our incredible foster volunteers help ease this pressure. Staying in a temporary home with one-on-one TLC can make a world of difference for an animal who does not feel comfortable in the shelter and may have a long wait before adoption.

Foster homes also give us a better idea of how an animal will behave in a home. Life in the shelter compared to life in a home is apples to oranges. A difficult behaviour an animal shows in the shelter might completely disappear in a home.

Every healthy, adoptable animal at the OHS will find a forever home, no matter how long it takes. Thanks to our caring community and our incredible volunteers, animals like Buddy and Echo can find a second chance.

Contact the OHS to find out more about adoption and Buddy and Echo. Or sign up to become a foster volunteer to do even more for animals in need.

Carley Davidson
Senior Manager: Operations