Ottawa Humane Society seeking pet food donations ahead of holidays

Stephen Smith from the Ottawa Humane Society stops by to share how you can support the animals in its care for Giving Week.

The Ottawa Humane Society is making a push to fill out its supply of cat and dog food ahead of the holiday season.

The Ottawa Humane Society’s Stephen Smith joined CTV Your Morning Live on Friday, alongside foster dog Marley, and he says the organization is looking to fill an entire adoption pod with pet food.

“Right now, we’re doing our Emergency Pet Food Bank food drive,” Smith said. “That’s where we’re asking our community to drop off donations of unopened bags of dry food for cats and dogs, cans as well.”

Smith says the organization handed out over 3,000 lbs of pet food last year, and the donated food is essential to keep pets in homes year-round.

“Say for instance you’re experiencing some financial difficulties and you’re trying to make the choice between feeding yourself and feeding your pet, that food bank can make all the difference when it comes to keeping your pet at home and preventing that pet to become surrendered to the OHS,” he said.

According to the OHS, the greatest need right now is 2 to 4 kilogram bags of dry cat food, 4 kilogram, 7 to 8 kilogram, and 12-plus kilogram bags of dry dog food, as well as canned dog food.

For those looking for other ways to get involved, Smith says adopting pets is always welcome.

“That gives us a space for the next animal in need,” he said.

Additionally, Smith says volunteering with the organization and fostering animals are also great ways to help.

“Foster homes make such a difference for the animals, because they get some one-one-one attention and care,” he said. “That one-on-one attention and care can make all the difference for them.”

The Ottawa Humane Society food drive runs from Dec. 3 to Dec. 14.

Donations are accepted at the following locations:

• OHS Shirley Kearns Memorial Adoption Centre at 245 West Hunt Club Road (Tuesday to Friday: 12 p.m. to 7 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.)
• Prancing Paws at 1090 Moselle Crescent (Monday to Friday: 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday: 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.)
• Ren’s Pets Kanata at 155 Roland Michener Drive (Monday to Saturday: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Sunday: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.)

For more information on the food drive visit the Ottawa Humane Society’s website.

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