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Accessibility and Access Keys [4]
Thursday, July 26, 2007
OTTAWA, Ont. (26 July, 2007) — Following the rescue of 40 animals from the fire-damaged Cornwall shelter last week and after admitting a near record number of strays, the Ottawa Humane Society (OHS) is facing an extreme housing crunch.While 79 animals have found new homes in the past week, close to 300 animals have been admitted to the shelter in that same time period, with more than 200 of those being stray or surrendered cats.
“Just as soon as we get the animals out the door, we have more coming in to take their place,” explains Bruce Roney, Executive Director of the OHS. “Summer is typically a busy period, but our staff have been working extra hard to deal with the volume.”
In an effort to boost cat adoptions, the OHS is allowing people who adopt one adult cat from its Champagne Avenue shelter to adopt a second cat at no extra cost. The OHS also has cats available at several pet stores throughout the city, although the special promotion does not apply to cats adopted from those locations.
“Our resources are stretched to the limit,” says Roney. “In nearly every single corner of our building, there are animals waiting to be adopted. We need to find homes for these cats, so the sooner they can leave our OHS family and join someone else’s, the better.”
For families considering adoption, summer can be a good time to integrate a new pet into the home. Holidays and a typically slower pace in July and August usually mean more free time, which can be the ideal scenario to bond with a new animal. Prospective adopters can come to the OHS adoption centre to see the animals in person. Photos and profiles of animals available for adoption can be also found on the OHS website at www.ottawahumane.ca
There’s also an urgent need for short-term foster homes to house about 45 cats who currently have upper respiratory infection — a feline cold. These animals need to be moved out of the shelter environment and into foster homes so they can recuperate before they’re adopted.
Anyone interested in becoming a temporary foster parent to an OHS animal should contact 613-725-3166 ext. 255.
For media enquiries, contact:
Tara Jackson, Communications Manager
(613) 725-3166 ext. 261
A word about the Ottawa Humane Society: