April 2018

National Volunteer Week Celebrates our Volunteers’ Heart, Passion and Energy

National Volunteer Week (NVW) is April 15-21, 2018. As an organization, we have no higher priority than to ensure we are meeting the needs of our ever changing society and the animals that live within it. Thank you to our volunteers for strengthening our organization with your heart, passion, and energy. 

During National Volunteer Week, we are celebrating those who have volunteered their time to animal welfare and improving the lives of the animals in our care. Each Animal Centre is hosting celebration events to thank volunteers, and their families, who help shape our communities.

Volunteers are vital to our organization and we can’t thank them enough. If you would like to get involved and be part of our team, visit our website for more details.

Nominate your veterinarian for this year’s Got A Pet? Get A Vet!™ Award

Help us recognize local veterinarians and their staff who go above and beyond to provide excellent care for pets and their families.

From April 23rd to May 18th, we want to hear from you! Submit your favourite veterinary clinic for the 2018 Got a Pet? Get a Vet!™ Award and encourage friends and family to go on the gotapetgetavet.ca website to vote for the winner. 

Got a Pet? Get a Vet!™ is an annual education campaign by the Ontario SPCA, in association with the Ontario Veterinary Medical Association (OVMA) and participating SPCAs and Humane Societies across Canada. It promotes and educates owners about the importance of annual veterinary checks. Just one checkup a year will help protect your pets against a variety of potentially life-threatening diseases, detect health problems sooner and help you avoid unexpected costs.

Over 130 cats arrive from Northern Ontario to find their forever homes

Community partners across Ontario are working together to give over 130 cats a second chance at finding forever homes. As part of the Animal Transfer Program, the Welland & District SPCA responded to a request from Kenora Cat Shelter and Second Chance Pet Network in Dryden to assist with the growing number of cats in their shelters waiting to be adopted.

Beat the Heat Kenora, a volunteer-based animal welfare group assisting with the transfer, picked up 50 cats and travelled to Wawa to meet the Welland SPCA’s transport team. The Ontario SPCA team made the trip to Dryden to pick up 85 cats from Second Chance Pet Rescue.  

Once the cats have been fully examined and cleared for adoption, they will be available through the Welland & District SPCA, Georgian Triangle Humane Society and the Ontario SPCA Provincial Education & Animal Centre.

How to video: Cleaning your cat’s ears

Cats generally have a reputation for being excellent self-groomers and rarely need human intervention. However, not all felines are diligent when it comes to hygiene and need a little extra help with routine ear cleaning to ward off infection. If you notice a build-up of debris or wax in your cat’s ears, it’s probably time for a cleaning. In this latest video, Monica and Mary from the Ontario SPCA Shelter Health & Wellness team show how easy it is to clean your cat’s ears.  

Hiking with your pet – tips for a great adventure

Are you gearing up for your first hike of the season? It’s officially Spring and time to get back in to the great outdoors. While there’s no doubt your pet is excited for some fresh air and exercise, there’s a few things you need to take into consideration before hitting the trails. Read the latest blog 5 tips for spring hikes with your pets for great tips to take into consideration before planning your next adventure.

Looking to Meet Your Match®?

You could be gazing at the animal of your dreams, but you just can’t tell what they’re thinking behind that cute furry face. What if you knew a little something about their personality and habits before you moved in together? Get ready to find a pet that suits your needs – get ready to “Meet Your Match!®”

A program of the ASPCA, Meet Your Match is the only method in existence that evaluates an animal’s behaviour and interests and matches them to an adopter’s preferences so that you take home a pet you can really click with. The Meet Your Match program won’t let you go home without knowing who’s in that carrier or on that leash.

Watch our video to learn more about this innovative program and see the matches it has made.

All “Fore” the Animals

We are getting our clubs all shined up and practicing our swing! It's almost GOLF season and we are gearing up for our annual All “Fore” the Animals Golf Tournament. This year, we will be partnering with the Ontario SPCA Midland & District Animal Centre to make it a spectacular event.  

Join us on Friday, June 15th at the Bonaire Golf & Country Club for an afternoon of outdoor fun, followed by a wonderful dinner and the chance to win some great prizes. And don’t worry, you don’t need to be a pro golfer to take part, you can come for the fresh air and networking.

Visit Orillia.ontariospca.ca for more information and to register.