50 Things You May Not Know about the Humane Society 1. The is a very old organization.

The OHS was founded in 1888, as the Women's Humane Society. Last year was our 125th Anniversary. 2. We are the parent of the Children's Aid Society.

The OHS was founded to protect the welfare of and children. The Children's Aid Society branched off from the OHS several years later. 3. The Ottawa Humane Society is a not-for-profit and a registered charity.

We are governed by a board of 14. 4. The OHS may be bigger than you think.

Last year, our regular staff compliment was 102 full- and part-time staff. (Though almost half are part-time.) Our budget is $6.2 million. Nearly two-thirds of this comes from donors and supporters. 5. The OHS is now located at 245 West Hunt Club Many people still don't know that we relocated in June 2011. 6. West Hunt Club is the OHS's fourth shelter.

The first was built on Mann Avenue in 1933. 7. The new OHS West Hunt Club shelter is more than three times the size of the old Champagne Ave. Shelter. Despite its size, one month after it opened in June 2011, the new shelter was full. 8. The OHS cares for over 10,000 animals every year.

Last year, 6,181 were ; 2,111 were ; 1,279 were ; 411 were small animals 9. Despite the fact that Ottawa is growing, the number of homeless animals is not.

The OHS has consistently cared for between ten and eleven thousand animals each year over the past 15 years. 10. The OHS is the municipal shelter for the City of Ottawa.

Last year, we cared for over 5,500 stray animals. The OHS provides the service under a purchase of service agreement. 11. Stray dogs are more than ten times more likely to be claimed by their owners than stray cats.

Last year, 59% of dogs, but only 5.2% of cats returned home. 12. Many people surrender their to the OHS.

Last year, close to 2,000 animals were surrendered by their owners. The busiest months are June and July. 13. At the OHS, all adoptable animals are adopted. There is no set time limit for how long we keep them.

We have kept animals for a year and more, looking for a home. 14. Almost as many animals are adopted out of our PAL locations than our own adoption centre

Last year, 1,881 animals were adopted out of 24 PAL locations. 15. You can shop at the OHS

The new West Hunt Club Shelter includes a retail store. The animals are our stakeholders, as all proceeds go to support their care. 16. You can adopt a to be delivered Christmas morning

Parents who wish to surprise their children can pre-adopt a pet and OHS volunteers will deliver him on the 25th! 17. The OHS has a fully accredited (and very busy) veterinary clinic.

Last year, the OHS clinic performed over 4,500 surgeries on our own animals. 3,500 were sterilizations. 18. Half of our sterilizations are performed on animals less than six months of age. Juvenile sterilization is better for the animal and allows the OHS to only adopt sterilized animals. 19. The OHS has an excellent relationship with the veterinary community.

Last year, Ottawa's gave over 500 hours of volunteer services. 20. Veterinarians sometimes volunteer at the OHS until late in the evening. Last year, the OHS introduced "Night Owl Surgeries" to accommodate veterinarians' busy schedules. 21. For 125 years, the Ottawa Humane Society investigated animal cruelty and neglect without any taxpayer support. Only last year did the province step up to the plate and partially fund investigations under their act and the Criminal Code. For 125 years, the work was funded by our donors. 22. The Ottawa Humane Society employs a team of peace officers to investigate animal cruelty and neglect.

Last year, we conducted 1,532 investigations, resulting in 54 charges under the Criminal Code or the OSPCA Act 23. The most frequent investigations are for a dogs left in hot cars.

453 last year. Followed by lack of veterinary care (210) and abuse (204). 24. The OSPCA Act empowers our officers to issue orders and remove animals from distress if not followed.

Last year, we issued 97 orders and 77 animals were removed. 25. The OHS receives over 1,600 emergency calls every year.

Last year, the OHS rescued 1,500 animals last year, resulting from 1,605 emergency calls. 26. The OHS investigates cruelty and neglect of all animals, not just domestic pets.

Livestock, animals in entertainment, wild animals and other non-pet species are a part of our work. 27. The OHS once rescued 261 mostly exotic animals crammed into a Kanata town home.

There were over 80 species identified, including desert foxes and ring-tailed lemurs. Some we didn’t recognize. 28. We get a lot of weird calls.

We once investigated an alleged mill that .. ..wasn't. 29. The Ottawa Humane Society reaches almost as many young people as animals.

Last year, our and youth programs reached over 9,000 young people. 30. Our newsletter is very popular.

Every two months, the OHS Newsletter "Our Best Friends" is delivered to 22,000 homes. 31. The OHS has a full curriculum for JK to Grade 12.

Last year, over 5,500 children and young people received an OHS humane education session in their classroom. 32. Children spend their March break, their PD days or a part of their summer at the OHS.

Last year, the OHS hosted close to 600 children in our "off leash" camps. This year, that number will be exceeded. 33. At-risk children and children in conflict with the law are helped by OHS animals. (And Vice-versa) Since 2004, the OHS LEAD program has paired shelter dogs with young people to the benefit of both. 34. You can have your Birthday party at the OHS. (Okay, maybe your child or grandchild can.) Last year, the OHS hosted 167 birthday parties. We expect to host more this year. 35. Your child or grandchild can have a guided tour of the OHS.

Last year, almost 600 children visited the OHS for a tour, mostly with cubs and brownies. 36. Your can be trained at the OHS.

Last year, the OHS offered obedience classes for 138 dogs. Many more are expected this year. 37. The OHS offers education for adults. Our Pet Savvy program targets low income communities. In exchange for attending sessions about responsible pet ownership, the OHS will sterilize their pet. 38. The OHS visits 72 facilities: old age homes, long-term care facilities, children's centres, women's shelters and homeless shelters.

The OHS was the first humane society in Canada to offer this program. 39. The OHS has an enormous number of volunteers: 690. OHS volunteers do everything from data entry to ; from helping organize events to monitoring surgical recovery. 40. One in every six animals in cared for by volunteers in their homes.

Last year, almost 300 volunteers cared for over 1,600 OHS animals in their homes. 41. The OHS website is very popular.

Close to 2,000 people visit our website every day. 42. The OHS has a website especially for kids.

A new kids website was launched last year. 43. The OHS published a book

Last year, in honour of our 125th anniversary, the OHS published Helping Hands; The First 125 Years. 44. The OHS produces 60 publications every year. Including 40 brochures and 18 newsletters.

In addition to our paper newsletter, the OHS publishes our e-newsletter, The Animal Advocate Electronically every month. 45. The OHS is very active on social media.

We have over 7,000 Twitter followers and close to 30,000 Facebook followers. 46. Individuals make the work of the OHS possible, not corporations or even fundraising events.

85 percent of the funds raised by the OHS come from individuals. 47. Many people remember the animals in their will.

495 people have told the OHS that they have provided for the animals in their will. 48. The OHS will care for your pet when you pass away or become incapacitated. 58 animals are enrolled in our Pet Stewardship program, whereby the OHS assumes responsibility for the care of people's pets. 49. You can visit us – for no reason at all.

Our old Champagne Avenue facility was cramped and not very inviting. Come see us in our new facility at 245 West Hunt Club. And number 50:

We couldn't do all this without the support and kindness of our community.

You make it all possible. Thank you for inviting me.