Lotus is a kind soul despite all he’s been through

Remember Lotus (pictured at left)? He was in very rough shape when he came into our care. He had a droopy ear and a leg that we knew had serious issues. A veterinary examination revealed a chronic ear infection and an old injury to his leg that hadn’t healed properly after being badly broken. To give Lotus the best chance at a pain-free future, the veterinarian recommended amputating his leg.

Our hearts are full as we tell you that he found his loving forever home. Now named Lenny, he is living his best life and even has a new fur-sibling named Yuri! The cats became instant friends. They play together, follow each other around, gaze out the window together and nap together.

“Lenny is so strong, so brave, so inspirational. He is just so full of love and life; we are blessed to have crossed paths,” his adopter reports. “He makes us smile and laugh every day and everyone who meets him falls in love. They all tell us how lucky he is to be part of our family, but we think the complete opposite – we are the lucky ones! After everything Lenny has lived and endured, he carries himself with nothing but love and joy.”

Adoption updates like that are what it’s all about! Please consider making a gift to help change the life of another animal like Lenny.

You might be ready for back to school, but is your pet?

It’s that time of year when parents rejoice as they send their kids back to school. Getting back into a routine can be great for everyone, however your furry friends might think otherwise. A quiet house can sometimes lead to boredom, and in some cases, separation anxiety.

Different animals have different needs, so it’s important to find what works for them. Check out these tips and tricks to get started today and talk to your veterinarian team for additional support.

Making furry friends for life with AnimalSmart™

School is back in session and we’re excited to be bringing our AnimalSmart™ humane education presentations to classrooms across Ontario! We’re currently recruiting volunteers and are accepting booking requests from schools.

AnimalSmart™ is the Ontario SPCA and Humane Society’s humane education program designed to foster empathy, promote a sense of responsibility, and inspire connection with animals and the environment. We offer presentations free of charge to schools and community groups for Grades 1-8.

Help us create a brighter future for animals by becoming a Humane Education volunteer! If you enjoy working with children and youth, and have a passion for presenting, we want to hear from you!

Interested in booking a presentation at your school? Fill out our online form, and we’ll see you soon!

Visit animalsmart.ca to learn more about the program and how you can become involved.

Tips and tricks for pill feeding

Getting an animal to take any needed medication can be a daunting task, especially if your furry friend rejects any crafty attempt at hiding their pill in a tasty treat. Or perhaps your companion animal has strict dietary restrictions, which means no go-to tricks like hiding pills in peanut butter. If this is the case, you’ll need to administer the medication directly into their mouth.

We asked Dr. Julia Hughes, Veterinarian, Shelter Health & Wellness at the Ontario SPCA and Humane Society, for tips on making pill-feeding less stressful on both you and your animal. Starting with a calm environment, Dr. Hughes takes us through the steps to help get your pets to take their meds.

Change a life by becoming a foster volunteer

The Ontario SPCA needs foster volunteers! Fostering is a rewarding and life-changing experience for both you and the animal you’re caring for. When you foster an animal, you are helping change a life! As a volunteer foster, you’ll be providing a vulnerable animal a temporary home and the necessary care to meet their social, emotional and physical needs.

The Foster Program benefits animals who are not ready for adoption and are either too young, sick, injured, under socialized or stressed to thrive in the animal centre environment. Instead, animals are cared for in a nurturing foster home.

What happens if you fall in love with the animal you’re fostering and want to adopt? Does the Ontario SPCA offer training and support? Do you need any specialized training? These are just some of the questions we often hear – and we have the answers! Check out our FAQ.

If you are ready to change a life and make some new friends, we want to hear from you! Join our foster volunteer family today!

Mature vs. Senior — Is your cat getting the right nutrition?

Did you know that a cat is considered mature around seven or eight years of age, and a senior around the age of 14?

Like humans, cats age at different rates depending on their environment, breed, diet, activity level, so regular visits to the veterinarian are important as your cat ages, especially if you start noticing changes in their behaviour or changes in their weight. While it’s common for older cats to have lower energy needs and less interest in their food by the time they become a senior, ensuring they maintain a healthy weight is important on so many levels.

To help determine whether your aging cat is getting the right nutrition, our friends at Royal Canin are offering some great tips and tricks to keep senior cats living their best golden years.