December 9, 2021
The Lesson in a Christmas Past
This time of the year, I often think about Christmases when I was a kid. When I was very young, my parents would put up the tree after we went to bed, so Christmas morning was the first time we would see it. We had to wait until everyone was up and had to have breakfast before even going into the room. The anticipation of waiting to see the presents and the Christmas tree appear in the morning was excruciating.
As I entered my teens, my family abandoned this ritual. My excitement about the tree and even the presents waned, and a good share of my enjoyment shifted to what I had bought for other people. I became more excited by the prospect of my friends and family opening the — probably crappy — gifts that my 13-year-old budget allowed me to buy. It made me feel like an adult, and I guess I was becoming one because I had learned that it really is better to give than to receive.
Now, years later, working at the Ottawa Humane Society, I’m reminded of that lesson every day. The gifts you give save lives and give second chances to the sick the lost, the homeless, and the unloved.
In the spirit of the season, I thought I would share a few of the beautiful animals saved because someone gave a loved one a heart-warming gift to Ottawa’s animals this year.
Redgy was fighting for his life against a tumour and lyme disease. But a heart-warming gift rewrote this mastiff’s story and gave him a second chance and a future.
Parker was lost, alone and had a terribly infected eye. Someone’s gift gave this kitten the care she desperately needed and a safe place to rest and recover.
Anakin needed a procedure known as an entropion repair to fix his eyelids. A generous gift made sure that Anakin got the care he needed and that he can live a pain-free life.
Bruce Roney
President & CEO