March 26, 2020
Sailing Uncharted Waters
It’s times like these that we recognize the heroes around us. In the past few weeks, I have seen many heroes in our community and right here at the Ottawa Humane Society.
The past couple of weeks have been challenging for everyone and certainly the OHS has not been immune. But the OHS has a detailed and well thought-out emergency plan, and so far it has worked extremely well. Of course, without people—our staff, volunteers and donors—even the best plan cannot work. We are truly blessed that all three have been heroes for the animals.
We have had to make huge changes to how we conduct our programs and services in order to contain the virus. These changes are being implemented while continuing to care for the animals that need us right now under difficult conditions. Our staff have come together, sometimes at great personal cost, to be here for the animals.
We have needed to move an unprecedented number of animals out of the shelter in the past week to make way for those in distress. Our heroic foster volunteers have stepped up to take more than 100 in the past week alone.
We have needed our donors to stick with us to ensure the animals in need right now and the tremendous numbers that might need us in the coming weeks are cared for. Our donors too have been heroes for the animals.
None of us know what is coming next, but we are prepared. The current public health crisis has forced all of us—our community, our staff, our volunteers and our supporters—to sail in uncharted waters. But then, that`s what heroes do.
Bruce Roney
President & CEO