Humane society calling for food donations as community struggles with pet affordability

The Ottawa Humane Society (OHS) is seeking unopened pet food donations amid challenges in pet affordability across local communities.

Pet food donations go towards supporting the Ottawa Humane Society’s Emergency Pet Food Banks, said OHS in a press release.

The OHS pet food drives are aimed at supporting residents by “providing short-term relief for pet owners who are struggling with the cost of pet ownership because of temporary and unforeseen circumstances,” said OHS on their website.

Based on an OHS community survey in 2023, more than half of 3,000 participants identified affordability and access to care as a major barrier between people and pets.

Wondering where you can donate pet food?

A Pet Food Drive weekend is taking place on September 14 and 15, from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m., at various locations throughout the city and the OHS’s Shirley Kearns Memorial Adoption Centre on 245 West Hunt Club Road.

According to the OHS, pet food drop off times and locations include:

• Sept. 14, 8:30 to 10:30 a.m., Run Ottawa’s Saturday 5k, Experimental Farms, Morningside Lane
• Sept. 14, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Ottawa Humane Society Shirley Kearns Memorial Adoption Centre, 245 West Hunt Club Road.
• Sept. 14, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Prancing Paws, 1090 Moselle Crescent.
• Sept. 15, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Byward Barket, George Street
• Sept. 15, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Ottawa Humane Society Shirley Kearns Memorial Adoption Centre, 245 West Hunt Club Road.
• Sept. 15, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Prancing Paws, 1090 Moselle Crescent.

“The need for our pet food bank is increasing,” said Sharon Miko, OHS President & CEO. “We recently expanded the service with pop-up locations to bring pet food where it’s needed most.”

The pet food item that is in greatest need is unopened bags of dog kibble, wrote OHS.

“Last year, the OHS Emergency Pet Food Bank distributed more than 18,000 kg of pet food”

Stephen Smith, Senior Manager of Marketing & Communications at the OHS

The non-profit is asking the community to donate unopened pet food of all kinds, gently used leashes and collars, and other pet supplies in good condition.

“The organization is expecting a 20 to 30 per cent increase this year,” Smith added.

What pet food does the Ottawa Humane Society need?

Click here for a ‘wishlist’ of the items the OHS will be accepting at their Emergency Pet Food Banks.

“A successful pet food drive means more pets will be able to stay with the families who love them,” Miko explained, adding “Pet affordability is a growing concern in our community.”

Ensuring people can care for their pets is a top priority of the OHS, which strives to support all animals who have nowhere else to go, noted Miko.

What efforts have been done to address the pet food struggle?

In addition to this weekend’s pet food drive, the OHS operates an Emergency Pet Food Bank every Thursday from its location on 245 West Hunt Club Road.

In August, the OHS held a pop-up food bank that offered pet food and basic pet care at an accessible location in the community, said the non-profit.

In under three hours, 80 pet owners accessed pet care services — such as nail trims — and the OHS distributed over 200 kg of pet food.

The OHS also provides funding to the Ottawa Food Bank, in efforts to make pet food accessible across the city — distributing pet food in the community.

Pet food drive donors will be offered a special discount on registration to the Wiggle Waggle Walk & Run taking place on September 29th on the Great Lawn at Landsdowne Park, said OHS.

The Ottawa Humane Society said it has recently launched a new five-year strategic plan, with the goal of keeping more pets with the people who love them.

“The growing demand for the OHS’s Emergency Pet Food Bank and other community services shows that there is a great need for these programs in Ottawa,” added Smith.