Ottawa Humane Society eliminates fees for pet surrender

The Ottawa Humane Society (OHS) has announced that it will no longer charge pet owners a fee to surrender their pets into the organization’s care.

Previously, pet owners were required to pay a surrender fee ranging from $25 to $125 depending on the type of pet they were surrendering. However, the OHS has now decided to eliminate this fee in a bid to remove financial barriers for those who need to surrender their pets.

Shaun Renton, OHS manager for admissions and rehoming, explained that the fee was no longer in anyone’s best interest. “We wanted to make sure that if someone was no longer able to provide for their pet, finances weren’t a barrier between them and making the best choice for their pet,” he said.

The surrender fee used to cover a small portion of the animal’s care in the shelter. However, with ongoing inflation, the OHS chose to remove the fee instead of increasing it.

Renton emphasized that surrendering a pet to the shelter is one of the most responsible decisions a pet owner can make if they are no longer able to care for their pet. He also acknowledged that surrendering a pet is one of the hardest decisions a pet owner can make. Eliminating surrender fees may make things a little easier for pet owners who are going through tough times.

The OHS predicts that removing the fee will reduce the number of animals abandoned outdoors and will bring more animals to the OHS before they develop severe medical or behavioural needs.