February 2016 

It's Family Day!  What better time to think about adding to your family.  Visit meetyourmatch.ontariospca.ca to find your perfect match or stop by the Ontario SPCA Midland & District Animal Centre to talk with the staff and visit animals currently up for adoption. 

Increase in Calls to 310-SPCA Cruelty Line – Dogs Being Left Outside

January was a busy month for our Investigations department and the trend continues as temperatures hover in the sub-zero range. Staff answering calls from the 310-SPCA Report Cruelty line are seeing an influx of reports from concerned citizens reporting dogs being left outside.

If it’s too cold for you to stay outside, then it’s too cold for your pets to stay outside! While some pets enjoy the great outdoors, it’s extremely important to ensure they are provided with appropriate outdoor accommodations. Download the Ideal Doghouse Brochure for details.

Like humans, dogs are susceptible to hypothermia. Prevention is half the battle. In our Pet Health Corner, Dave Wilson, Director of Shelter Health and Wellness for the Ontario SPCA and retired vet, talks more about how to prevent hypothermia and how to recognize its symptoms.

Win Leaf Tickets While Helping Animals Like "Freddie"

Little “Freddie” was suffering from serious head injuries when he was rescued by the Ontario SPCA. Thanks to the support of caring people like you, Freddie was able to get the care and rehabilitation he needed for a second chance at happiness. Donations and participation in events like the upcoming National Cupcake Day™ on February 29th, helped Freddie get the surgery he needed to live a happy, healthy life with his new family. 

You can help other animals in the Midland area get their second chance by joining this year’s Cupcake Day and baking cupcakes for family, friends and coworkers.

Win Leaf Tickets for the game on Thursday, March 17th, 2016 when you sign up to support the Ontario SPCA Midland & District Animal Centre!  When you raise $50 or more, you will be entered into a draw to win. For every additional $50 raised you will gain another entry into the draw ($200 = 4 entrys). Contest will run for the month of February. Winner will be chosen on March 10th.

 Register today at nationalcupcakeday.ca and help save animals’ lives.

 

A Little Love for “Timber”

When “Timber” was brought to the Ontario SPCA Midland & District Animal Centre, it was clear this little guy had the sweetest temperament but was extremely emaciated and needed immediate veterinary care. He had a heart murmur and suffered from digestion troubles due to scavenging through garbage for scraps for so long.

Luckily, he was spotted by potential adopters who fell in love with him, and once he was fully recovered they brought him home.

Thank you for giving Timber his second chance!

The Importance of Microchipping

Does your pet have a microchip? Each year thousands of lost and abandoned animals are taken in by shelters across the province. Some of these animals never make it home because they can’t be identified.

Microchipping can provide the only truly permanent method of identifying your pet and linking the animal back to you. Collar tags can break or become unreadable and tattooing can become illegible.

So, if you want to improve your pet’s chances of getting home fast and safe in case it were to go missing, microchipping is your best option.

Creating an Exceptional Team Together

When making a cake mix, it requires the right amount of many ingredients to achieve the desired result. This is so true, especially with our incredible volunteer team here at the Ontario SPCA Midland & District Animal Centre.

Blending all of the talents and skills of our volunteers makes for one impressive team. Volunteers like Donna not only help with the shelter animals, but often end up falling for some of our pets and adopting them. We know it’s not always easy, but when we face challenges together, we can accomplish anything!

February is Dental Health Month

Every morning and every night, we humans spend time taking care of our teeth. But what about our pets? How can their teeth and gums stay healthy if we don’t give them the same care? 

February is Pet Dental Health Month! To help our pets maintain dental health, we explore the five W’s of good oral care for pets.