December 31, 2024
Why 2025 Will Be Unstoppable for the Animals
In the very first week of 2024, I wrote:
Between the worries of pet owners who are concerned that finances may drive them and their pets apart, Ontario struggling to provide effective protections against animal cruelty and neglect, and surges of pets in need arriving at the OHS, it’s easy to be apprehensive about what’s to come in 2024.
Apprehensive we may have been, but our community’s generosity, compassion and relentless desire to help animals in need outshone any worry.
In Ottawa and at other shelters throughout the province, 2024 was still a busy year with many homeless animals needing shelter and care. However, incredible collaboration and people going above and beyond for the animals meant that we could do even more for the animals who need us most. When we asked the community for donations to support our pet food bank, you showed up in a big way to help keep pets and their people together. When one of our partners in Ontario were struggling with surges of kittens, we were able to transfer some of the kittens to Ottawa where they were quickly adopted into loving homes.
This year, we saw more people accessing our wellness clinics and pet food bank, yet the number of people who made the decision to surrender their pet remained steady.
What can we draw from this? That when people can provide and care for their pet, they may be less likely to have to make the heartbreaking decision to give them up.
In 2024, Ontario took an impressive step forward and made puppy mills illegal. There is still more work to be done to protect animals from abuse and neglect in the province, but we are heading in the right direction and it is clear that people speaking up for animals are driving change and progress forward. The OHS continues to consult with the province, to ensure that the protections in place are the right ones, to keep our animals safe.
The past year wasn’t without its challenges, and 2025 will no doubt have its own obstacles to overcome. The needs of people and their pets are evolving as the affordability of pet care falls out of reach for many. The number of pet owners in our community is growing and so is a widening gap in the number of veterinary professionals available to care for these pets. More pets at the OHS has also meant that some animals are more likely to be overlooked for adoption, stretching their stay at the shelter. Much of the past year has seen the OHS developing aggressive plans to keep pets in homes where they are loved, and to find new homes for those without them.
With you at our side, I know that we can bring these plans to life and build a better tomorrow for the animals. We’ve come along way, and we are going even further.
Happy new year, and thank you for making the past 365 days great for the animals.
Sharon Miko
President & CEO