Blog

A fulfilling career with the Humane Society

This month, after 27 years with the Humane Society, our Animal Control Officer Gary Boes is retiring. It would be a miss not to revisit some of the highlights of his career.

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A letter to aspiring veterinarians

Thinking of becoming a veterinarian? Have you considered shelter medicine specialty?

In a letter addressed to the Future Vets Club at the University of Guelph, our very own Dr. Laurel Gale talks about the specialty of shelter medicine and provides advice for students considering this career pathway.

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Painted Turtle Update

This is an update on the turtle that we rescued on the side of the road in Baden and later sent to Hobittstee Wildlife Refuge for rehabilitation. Due to the number of questions and comments we received on our social channels, Hobbitstee sent us this post to clear up some misconceptions about the rehabilitation of turtles. 

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Interview with Foster Coordinator Stephanie Schamber

A special highlight on our Foster Program Coordinator, Stephanie Schamber and the increased importance of this program during COVID-19.

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The Life Cycle of a Baby Raccoon

Guest Blog Post from our friends at Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control!

Raccoons are wildly independent creatures. With their impressive foraging and climbing skills, there is little need to rely on one another for survival. With that in mind, what exactly does the early life of a raccoon look like? At Skedaddle, we hope that understanding the stages baby raccoons go through from birth to full maturity will also help us understand when it’s important to leave them be, and when to call a professional for help.

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KWSPHS May 22nd Update

Here's another weekly update from KWSPHS. This time from our Animal Control Officer, Brittany Hennessey as she talks about the removal of 14 cats from a residence in Kitchener.

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KWSPHS May 15th Update

 Check out this update from Linzi Bahat, Adoption Counsellor at the Kitchener Waterloo Humane Society as she talks about the 10 puppies finding their forever homes and the latest Foster Fail!

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Breed Specific Legislation: Our experience & research

Guest Blog Post by Amanda Hawkins, Senior Manager of Animal Care

As a charitable animal welfare organization, we are at the front line in enforcing and managing dogs that fall under Ontario’s Breed Specific Legislation. In 1997, a law was passed in Kitchener and Waterloo in that any dog that has an appearance and physical characteristics substantially similar to a pit bull terrier, a Staffordshire bull terrier, an American Staffordshire terrier or an American pit bull terrier is prohibited from residing in these cities. When the provincial ban was enacted in 2005, this law now applied to all of our communities.  

The following article talks about some of our research and our experiences with the Breed Specific Legislation. 

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Breed Specific Legislation: Our position on BSL

Guest Blog Post by Jacqueline Watty, Vice President of our Board of Directors, KWSPHS

It is no secret that the Humane Society of Kitchener Waterloo and Stratford Perth believes in a kinder, safer Ontario (and Canada) for all.  Breed specific legislation is a hot topic and has been for decades as it seeks to generalize a ‘look’ or ‘type’ of animal. In my mind, it can be easily translated to how humans discriminate against one another – based on how someone looks, talks, dresses etc. It simply isn’t okay for us to be judging ‘books by their cover’ whether it be of fellow humans or animals – all of us are individuals.  

Breed Specific Legislation discriminates against one breed, instead of looking at each dog as an individual.  We felt it was time to dig deeper to better understand the issues surrounding BSL, its enforcement, the scientific evidence and the concern that has been spread due to a lack of understanding, education and inconsistent messaging on the topic.

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KWSPHS May 1st Update

We are preparing for kitten season! Here is an update from our Senior Manager of Animal Care, Amanda Hawkins.

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Resources for Pet Owners in Need

Our pets are some of the most important members of our family.  But what happens when they need veterinary care, food or medication and you are struggling?  It’s a question that pet owners face in difficult times and particularly in the face of the recent pandemic.

There are many options out there, but it can be hard to know where to start.  So we’ve rounded up a few items that you can research in your area to find the best solution for you and your pet.

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Raccoons out during the day - Should I be Concerned?

GUEST BLOG SPOT from our friends at Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control! 

As most of us know, raccoons are nocturnal creatures - nocturnal animals are normally most active at night. Because of this, we often see a raccoon walking around during the day as a cause for concern. It is a commonly believed myth that a raccoon wandering your neighbourhood during daylight hours must be very ill, however, there are many reasons that these mammals might be wandering about while the sun is shining. 

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KWSPHS Update

Here's an update on our emergency pet food bank, emergency boarding program and our upcoming events from our Senior Manager of Finance, Juana Galian. 

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Happy Tails: Update on Sarge!

Sarge was adopted back in January of this year from the Kitchener Waterloo Humane Society! Here's what his family had to say about his time at home!

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A Letter of Thanks: Volunteer Appreciation Week

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Thank you to our incredible foster families!

Our foster families have been an INCREDIBLE support during this time, and as of earlier this week, had accepted 56 animals into their homes for an indefinite period of time. Here's a thank you from our Foster Coordinator, Stephanie Schamber!

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KWSPHS Update on the Emergency Pet Food Bank

Our Senior Manager of Development, Nick Burke and his furry companion Fitz have an update regarding the Emergency Pet Food Bank program.

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Foster Testimonial from Foster Mom Gillian

We are so thankful for all of the foster families that open their doors to animals in need throughout the year.  Whether it be nursing moms and kittens, bottle feeders, puppies, or animals with medical needs who need a little extra time to heal – they’re there to support them.
With the COVID-19 pandemic, we have needed our fosters more than ever – around 50 animals are safe and cared for because of our foster families offering temporary housing, love and attention.  To all of our foster families – thank you!
We wanted to share a fantastic story of one of our foster parents, Gillian.  Here’s what she has to say about her time fostering for the Humane Society:

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It's Animal Care Appreciation Week!

We're celebrating Animal Care appreciation week at the Humane Society!  Stay tuned for staff features of those who help our animals get a second chance at life and a loving home.

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KWSPHS Update on Community Programs & Education

Thank you all for the support! Here is an update from our Community Programs Manager, Kathleen McCaughey and our Community Engagement Coordinator - Education, Kelsey Metz about our community and education programs.

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