Dogs found abandoned in parking lot over long weekend doing well, Ottawa Humane Society says

Two five-month-old puppies found abandoned in Manotick are now in the care of the Ottawa Humane Society. May 20, 2026. (Maddison de Varennes/CTV News Ottawa)

The Ottawa Humane Society says two dogs found abandoned in a parking lot in Manotick over the long weekend are doing well.

Communications manager Stephen Smith told CTV News Ottawa the Papillon puppies were found alone on Saturday and brought to the Ottawa Humane Society by bylaw officers.

“Currently, they’re looking pretty good. They were a little thin and had some light scabbing. They, of course, were very scared, which we can understand, being five-month-old puppies in a completely new circumstance. But our team is taking great care of them, and they seem to be warming up really well,” Smith said.

The dogs don’t have names yet, Smith said. The Ottawa Humane Society is currently looking to find the owner of the dogs.

“It’s very common for cases like these, where we don’t fully know all the circumstances surrounding how the dogs ended up where they were, that we’ll take the time to find an owner for them,” he said. “There might still be a family looking for them, but in the meantime, of course, they’re safe and at the Ottawa Humane Society receiving the care they need.”

• Sign up now for daily CTV News Ottawa newsletters

Smith said the Ottawa Humane Society is available to support pet owners or take in animals that need to be surrendered so that they do not need to be abandoned.

“If you’re ever in need, if you ever can’t take care of your dog, you do not need to abandon them in such a way. The Ottawa Humane Society is here, and we can help you take care of your animal,” he said. “We have some great programs, like a pet food bank, wellness clinics, temporary boarding for people in crisis, and if none of those services can help you keep your pet, we’re here to make sure they have a soft place to land.”

If an owner does not come forward in the next few days, Smith says the dogs will be put up for adoption.

• The information you need to know, sent directly to you: Download the CTV News App

“Right now, it seems like it’s basically a sterilization surgery, and then they’ll likely be ready to find their forever homes, but of course, we need to fully assess what sort of medical and behavioral needs they might need before finding that perfect match,” said Smith.

Smith added that anyone who wants to support the Ottawa Humane Society’s work can donate, volunteer, or adopt one of the more than 400 animals currently in care.

“Ottawa has a fantastic community of care, where people are willing to stand up for the animals,” Smith said. “We saw that on social media over the weekend, where there’s a great outpouring of support and concern for these dogs, and we know that a lot of people in Ottawa know to do the right thing and to help get animals to the Ottawa Humane Society.”