Purrfect Pairings

July 29, 2015 – The Ottawa Humane Society is in urgent need of foster volunteers, adopters and donations to manage a spike in cat numbers and avert a kitty crisis.

The shelter's cat population is reaching a critical level and the animals need help fast, said Bruce Roney, OHS executive director. The number of cats at the OHS will only climb as the summer continues, he said.

"We recently had a veterinarian here till midnight just to stay on top of surgeries. We're working hard to prevent a situation where we're stacking cages and, where we can, temporarily turning away owners who want to surrender their pets," Roney said.

The OHS has more than 700 animals in its care at this moment, with more than 60 cats waiting for a foster placement. The OHS needs foster volunteers to take in sick and nursing cats as well as kittens who are too young to be adopted, Roney said.

"Becoming a foster volunteer gives these cats a second chance," Roney said. "It's one of three ways we need the community's help right now, the other two being adoptions and donations."

Finding permanent homes for the nearly 100 cats available for adoption would alleviate some of the pressure, Roney said.

"If you've been thinking about it, now's a perfect time to adopt from us," he said.

Roney said the high cat population means increased costs for everything from medicine to food for the animals. Summer is the time when costs are at their highest and donations at their lowest, he said.

For more information, please visit www.ottawahumane.ca/kitten.

Here is a hard working momma cat with her litter of kittens, brought to the OHS this weekend. Please consider Virtually Fostering them!

A Good Samaritan found a kitten in a plastic garbage bag near a Barrhaven park one morning in July and rushed her to the Ottawa Humane Society.

The four-month-old kitten, named Hope by OHS staff, was discovered after she was heard mewing for help. She was found inside the bag that had been dumped on a pile of trash near Weybridge Park, the witness told OHS staff.

Hope has an ulcer on her right eye and a scraped up nose — injuries she likely got struggling to free herself from the bag, the OHS vet said. Hope is recovering at the OHS where she is getting the medical attention she needs.

It's during the summer months when donations to the Ottawa Humane Society are at their lowest and our emergency rescue calls are at their highest. Last year alone, Rescue and Investigation Services Agents rescued more than 1,500 animals. Right now, we remain on high alert for animals crying for help. We need your donation today so we can be there for all animals in danger – like Hope.

It's horrifying that someone would do this to a defenceless animal. Despite her brush with death, Hope is doing remarkably well. She is a little banged up but beyond that, she is a sweet and playful little girl who now gets a second chance at life.

Please make a donation today to support Hope's healing, and to help us respond to the next cry for help.

This litter of kittens in almost every shade of orange arrived at the OHS earlier this spring. How cute!

Kittens are arriving!  Here is a mom cat (waaaaaay in the back) with her kittens on arrival at the OHS. Thanks to the people who have virtually fostered kittens, these cats will get the loving care they need until they are ready to find new homes.

Due to their vulnerable nature and special needs, many orphan kittens require a respite from the shelter environment in order to survive and thrive. Here is one cute kitten getting a check-up from OHS staffer Terry-Lynn before being sent to a foster volunteer's home.

Kitten cuteness time!

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