Search Results for: pet%20loss
Youth Pet Sitting Course
The OHS Youth Pet Sitting program is designed for youth ages 14 to 18 who are interested in working with animals. Participants who successfully complete the program will have all the knowledge and resources they need to open their own pet sitting business!
Upcoming Program Dates (Youth must be able to attend all four classes):
- Saturday, May 25 (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.)
- Saturday, June 1 (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.)
- Saturday, June 8 (3 to 7 p.m.)
- Saturday, June 15 (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.)
Age Requirement: Youth ages 14 to 18
Cost: $285
Program Hours: Classes are four hours long, and start times vary. Please check your session’s schedule before booking. The Youth Pet Sitting program takes place over four weeks.
Sessions will cover a variety of topics:
Week 1 – Foundational Knowledge
- Introduction to the OHS
- What is pet sitting?
- The Five Freedoms of Animal Welfare
- Responsible pet ownership
- How to use positive reinforcement in animal training
- Understanding animal body language
Week 2 – Caring for Animals
- Feeding different species and breeds
- Nail clipping, teeth brushing and grooming practice
- Creating animal enrichment games
- Small animal care and handling
- Cat handling and transportation practice
- Dog handling and harnessing practice
Week 3 – Staying Safe
- Understanding zoonotic diseases
- How to identify and prevent illness and disease
- Administering medications
- Handling pet emergencies
- How to look for a lost animal
- Animal neglect and cruelty
- Basic pet first aid workshop
- Build your own pet first aid kit for home
Week 4 – Building a Business
- Client and pet sitter responsibilities
- Steps to onboarding new clients
- How to communicate with clients
- Handling client concerns
- Keeping keys safe
- Design your own flyer or business card
- Final quiz
This course is the perfect opportunity for youth planning to open their own pet sitting or dog walking business and is a great addition to a resume. Participants who complete the program will receive an OHS Youth Pet Sitting workbook, a pet emergency kit, carabiners for dog walking, client handouts, a self-made custom flyer or business card electronic file, and a document of completion.
Upcoming Program Dates (Youth must be able to attend all four classes):
- Saturday, May 25 (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.)
- Saturday, June 1 (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.)
- Saturday, June 8 (3 to 7 p.m.)
- Saturday, June 15 (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.)
To be placed on an interest list for OHS Youth Programs that are not currently open for registration, select the “Interest List” button below. Select the calendar date (Dec. 31, 2024) and time (11:59 p.m.) and select “Book Now”.
Youth Pet Sitting Course – Cancellation & Refund Policy
Refund requests received 7 days in advance of the scheduled program are eligible for a refund of $230 (a $55 non-refundable administration fee applies). Refund requests received within 7 days of the scheduled program are not eligible for a refund. Refunds will not be granted for youth who do not complete the final test or are unable to attend every night of programming.
Full refunds will be issued in the event the OHS has to cancel a scheduled program.
For more information or to be added to an interest list, email programs@ottawahumane.ca or call 613-725-3166 ext. 298
Pet Stewardship
Most of us assume that we will outlive our pets. But what if you are the one who becomes ill or incapacitated, or dies first? Do you have a plan that will ensure that your surviving companion animals receive the care, attention and accommodations they deserve?
The Ottawa Humane Society Pet Stewardship Program ensures that upon your death, your companion animals are adopted into loving homes that are best suited to their needs.
The program operates as follows:
- Owner signs an agreement with the Ottawa Humane Society (OHS)
- Owner completes care information on the animal
- Bequeaths animal to OHS
- Upon death of the owner, OHS takes immediate custody of the animal and places it in foster care, estate transfer funds to OHS
- OHS agrees not to euthanize except in cases of disease or severe behaviour problems
- Permanent caregiver is found
- Monitoring visits are arranged
- Medical care is arranged for the lifetime of animal
- OHS retains the right to remove the animal from the caregiver
How to Register
- Contact the manager of legacy giving at the Ottawa Humane Society at legacy@ottawahumane.ca.
- Review the Pet Stewardship Agreement with a legal professional and/or financial advisor.
- Sign the Pet Stewardship Agreement
- Bequeath your companion animal(s) to the Ottawa Humane Society in your will.
- Arrange for a future payment to the Ottawa Humane Society in your will (see below), or with a payment through a life insurance policy, a trust, or make an outright payment at the time you enroll your companion animal.
- Complete a Pet Stewardship Program cat information form or dog information form, as well as a medical consent form for each companion animal you own and return it to us, along with a digital photograph of the companion animal. We will also ask you to update this on an annual basis.
- Send a copy of the section in your will that refers to the Pet Stewardship Program to:
Ottawa Humane Society
Pet Stewardship Program
245 West Hunt Club Road
Ottawa Ontario, K2E 1A6
Pet First Aid
First aid is an important part of taking care of the ones you love. Your animal companion is more than just a pet – they are a member of your family! With that in mind, do you know how to recognize a potentially serious condition in your pet? Would you know how to help if they are injured?
Be the best pet owner you can be by attending Pet First Aid at the OHS!
OHS Pet First Aid courses are taught by a registered veterinary technician. Topics covered in each course include:
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*These topics will include hands-on practical demonstrations using life-sized stuffed dogs.
Please note that:
- The OHS does not offer practical CPR in our Pet First Aid courses.
- OHS Pet First Aid courses are suitable for adult participants.
- For youth participants interested in pet care and related topics, please visit our Youth Programs page and check out our new OHS Youth Pet Sitting Course!
Cost: $120 per participant
**A 25% discount is available for all OHS adopters who register for OHS Pet First Aid courses. Use promo code included in your Adoption Package at time of online registration.**
Upcoming Courses:
- Saturday, March 2, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. (in-person at the OHS) *SOLD OUT*
To be placed on an interest list for future Pet First Aid classes, select the “Interest List” button below to register. Select the calendar date (Dec. 31, 2024) and time (11:59 pm) and select “Book Now”. You will remain on the mailing list until Dec. 31, 2024, or until you cancel. Registration to the Interest List is free of charge.
Pet First Aid Refund Policy: Refund requests received 48 hours in advance of a scheduled program are eligible for a refund (a $25 administration fee is non-refundable). Refund requests received within 48 hours of the scheduled program are not eligible for a refund.
For more information, email education@ottawahumane.ca or call (613) 725-3166, ext. 204.
Giving Up Your Pet
The decision to give up a companion animal is a difficult one. At the Ottawa Humane Society, we are here to help you explore all possible options so that you can keep your animal, but we recognize that sometimes, giving up your companion is the best option — for you and for your pet.
Before you decide to give up an animal, ask yourself:
Training?
If the challenge you are experiencing is related to your pet’s behaviour, is it something that possibly could be corrected with training or by speaking with a trainer?
Medical care?
If the problem is health-related, is it something that your veterinarian may be able to help you with?
Allergies?
If you are suffering from animal allergies, are there steps that you can take to help control your allergies?
No time?
If you are concerned that you simply don’t have enough time to spend with your companion animal, could you hire a pet sitter (or dog walker if it’s a dog) to help out?
Be honest…
If your pet has a chronic health problem or one or more serious behaviour issues, is it realistic to expect that another person will be more willing or able to deal with these problems?
If you have a challenge with your companion animal that you want help with, please contact us. Our staff can guide you through the resources that are available to help you keep your pet.
Lost Pet Prevention
Up to 15% of pets go missing each year…help make sure your pet is not one of them, and that if they are, you can get them home quickly!
At the Ottawa Humane Society, we’re here to help.
Prevent your pet from going too far!
Nobody expects their pet to get lost, but it happens — a lot. Some pets are very adventurous. There may be alluring smells outside, or other animals. Some pets startle easily. The good news is, you can take steps to prevent your pet from going too far. Review our printable Lost Pet Prevention Checklist with your family, and make sure you’ve taken all the steps you can to keep your pet safe!
Find Your Lost Pet Fast!
If your pet does become lost, act quickly. Some pets may find their way home on their own, but many don’t. Time is critical to getting your lost pet back.
Pets & Kids: Life Lessons Through Pet Ownership
For many people raising a family, adding an animal into the mix can be a somewhat daunting idea. The mere prospect has many parents contemplating more work, more noise, and more mess. However, many of us who have had pets as kids or have raised kids with pets in the household know that it can make a lasting positive impact on the life of a child, and make all of the hard work, added hullabaloo, and extra mess well worth it.
To start, a child with a pet regularly exercises compassion; they learn to love and care for something other than themselves and their immediate family. Understanding that their pet has an inner world of their own, with complex feelings and emotions, can be an invaluable tool in gaining emotional intelligence and can help children grow up to be kind and empathetic adults.
Families who have pets naturally tend to lead a more active lifestyle. The healthy habits kids learn at a young age, like getting out for regular walks with Fido, stick with them throughout their whole lives.
Children who grow up with pets also have a unique opportunity to take on a special kind of responsibility. Caring for a pet teaches them that the most enjoyable things in life often require commitment and a lot of work — but that the benefits are immeasurable.
Perhaps the most meaningful benefit to a child is that a pet can be a source of comfort and be a best friend. It can be a child’s silver lining after a difficult day, or help them partake in interactive, exciting play. For children with special needs, a relationship with a family pet can be profoundly beneficial; an animal can be engaging and stimulating in ways that toys or television simply cannot.
Furthermore, you can imagine how therapeutic it could be for a special needs child (or any child for that matter) who might struggle to communicate or have a hard time connecting with his or her peers to experience the completely non-judgmental and unconditional love of a family pet.
Many of us who grew up with a beloved pet remember how much we loved them and we fondly cherish their memory. We might remember how we changed their lives or what we trained them to do, but perhaps the most amazing part of growing up with a pet is not what we teach them, but what they teach us.
Kristen Brooker
Coordinator: Humane Education
Pet Affordability Crisis — Ottawa’s Pets At-Risk
In case you haven’t heard, Ottawa is facing a pet affordability crisis. That rang through loud and clear when we consulted with our community early this fall to find out their thoughts on the biggest challenges facing pets and their people today. In fact, more than half of the 3,000 respondents cited cost of pet food and veterinary care as the biggest issues facing pet owners.
You can read the full report and findings on our website.
At the OHS, we’re seeing that pressure every day. Last week, we received more than 30 calls a day from people considering surrendering their pet — sometimes a single person will call needing to surrender multiple pets. Other communities whose shelters are overrun, are referring clients our way.
Giving up a pet isn’t usually a decision someone wants to make. Our current programs from our pet food bank, to wellness clinics and subsidized spay/neuter service, are making a dent. We have heard first-hand, that these services have made it possible for some families to stay together and not make the heartbreaking decision to give up their pet.
As an open-admission shelter, we will never turn an animal away. When our resources are stretched, we will work with owners who can’t keep their pet to delay admission wherever possible, as we must remain available to those animals in distress who need us immediately. One of the best ways we can do that, is by helping to keep pets in homes with those who love them.
Where a pet is loved and cared for, let them stay.
Sharon Miko
President & CEO
Avoid Pet Peeves
Here are some simple things you can do to be a responsible pet owner:
- Stoop and Scoop: It doesn’t take much effort to clean up after your pets and no one else should have to. Please keep our community clean and disease-free.
- License Your Dog: A license gives your dog 24-hour identification in case he strays or becomes injured.
- A Controlled Pet is Protected Pet: Pets need protection from hazards such as traffic, disease and accidents. People need protection from uncontrolled pets. Keep your pet under control at all times. If your cat goes outdoors, ensure she stays on your property with the use of a harness leash on a cable tie-out or clothesline. An enclosure for your cat is also easy to build. In any case, only allow your cat out under supervision.
- Collar and Tag: A tag tells everyone that a cat has a home and where to reach her owners if she becomes hurt or lost should she stray from your yard.
- Have your Pet Spayed or Neutered: It’s a plus for your pet and a plus for you because it eliminates many behavioural issues, such as spraying, heat periods and litters (up to three a year) and will reduce the number of unwanted animals.
- Pets Need Vets: Have your pet vaccinated and examined annually by a veterinarian.
February is Pet Dental Health Month
Say “Ah” Lola! |
Dental care at the OHS |
OHS Chief Veterinarian
Five Reasons to Adopt a Senior Pet
- Know what you are getting. Puppies and kittens change as they grow up. They get bigger and their personalities can become completely different. With an older pet, you know they aren’t growing and you will already have a good idea of what their personality is like. Adopting a senior takes away the guesswork, and helps ensure a good adoption match.
- Senior cats and dogs are typically less destructive. By the time a cat or a dog reaches their senior years, they have usually outgrown the urge to chew up your new pair of shoes or climb your curtains for fun.
- Older pets can make great companions for older people. Older adults often find the calm presence of a senior pet comforting, and many older people enjoy the mature company of a senior pet.
- Already trained, but still trainable. Yes, you can teach old dogs (and cats) new tricks! Often, they will learn these more readily than a younger pet due to their longer attention span and ability to focus.
- Kindness. A senior pet in a shelter knows what it’s like to live in a home, and will be relieved to find a new home. Senior pets are the most difficult to find homes for, and seniors, like any animal, deserve a chance to live out their years in a loving home environment. Many owners form a tight bond with their newly adopted senior pet because of the attention and devotion their new pet shows them.
What should you expect from a veterinary perspective?
Veterinarians usually recommend a wellness exam twice annually for senior cats and dogs, as well as routine blood and urine screening tests. To some, this may seem like senior cats and dogs require more costly veterinary care, but the truth is that all pets will incur veterinary costs throughout their lives. You never know what veterinary care that puppy or kitten will need later in life, whereas with a senior pet, you might have a better idea of what they will need.
November is Adopt a Senior Pet Month. Please consider adopting a sweet, loving senior cat or dog into your home.
Dr. Shelley Hutchings
Chief Veterinarian
Adopt a senior from the OHS: