Talkin' Shop

Here’s what’s been going on at Windsor/Essex County Humane Society.

What is something you are proud of as an organization?
The Windsor/Essex County Humane Society is proud to be a progressive shelter, implementing innovative programs and services to ensure we can better serve animals and our community. For example, we were one of the early adopters in Ontario of the Return to Field program for free-roaming cats brought to the shelter as strays. We are also incredibly proud of our public spay/neuter clinic, which opened in 2011 and provides low-cost spay/neuter and wellness services. Additionally, we now offer drive-through microchip clinics to ensure pets in our community can be reunited with their families should they become lost.

What makes your organization unique?
Located in the southernmost part of Canada, we enjoy a more moderate climate than much of the rest of the country, but with these warmer temperatures comes a higher population of free-roaming cats. This part of Ontario has also historically lacked access to low-cost spay/ neuter, contributing to cat overpopulation. We have to continue to work diligently to help reduce the number of cats needing to find homes in our community.

What program do you run that is important for people to know about?
Our surgical pyometra treatment program has helped save the lives of dozens of pets whose owners would not otherwise be able to afford the emergency surgery required for pets afflicted with this serious, life-threatening infection.

We also offer a spay and neuter program specifically for barn cats. Many people with barn cats don’t think of them as community cats; they have a responsibility to spay or neuter, but their offspring often enter the shelter as stray kittens. So we launched a reduced-cost spay and neuter program specifically for barn cats.

We are lucky to have a dog park on our property, which allows shelter dogs to run and play and meet with potential new families. But after hours, the park is available to our community to rent and use exclusively. This program is great for dogs who prefer not to play with other animals, as the rental allows them to have the park entirely to themselves.

What is the biggest obstacle(s) your organization faces while caring for animals?
Windsor/Essex County faces economic challenges that can make it difficult for pet owners to afford veterinary care. We are proud to offer a comprehensive list of wellness treatments in addition to spay and neuter at our public clinic, as we believe it is very important to provide accessible veterinary care to our community. When appointments become available, they are booked up incredibly quickly, so we continually strive to meet the overwhelming demand for these services.

Can you share a story of a specific pet you’ve helped?
Clyde’s family brought him to the Humane Society because he was old and thought it was “his time.” A 12-year-old Basset Hound, he’s definitely a senior doggo, but it was very clear that he didn’t agree that it was his time. He had lots of life and love in him! Clyde is now living his BEST life in a new home. He loves to bark (that hound DNA runs deep), he loves running around the property (although he learned to steer clear of the chickens after they chased him out of their pen), and he even gets to visit the pet store and pick out his own toys!

In your words, why are pet licenses important? Why should you license your pet?
Pet licences are updated regularly, whereas sometimes owners may forget to update their pet’s microchip information should they move or change contact information. This helps ensure that we have the most up-to-date information for pet owners, increasing the likelihood of reuniting lost pets with their families.

How do monetary donations and licensing fees help out around your organization?
Donations are the primary source of revenue for the Windsor/Essex County Humane Society, and directly support the programs and services that we offer, allowing us to help thousands of animals every year. The most impactful way that people can help is through financial donations, as that gives us the most flexibility to direct funds to the areas with the most need. Should someone wish to donate pet supplies, we have a wishlist on our website that details items we regularly need.

What does the day of a shelter worker/volunteer normally look like?
It depends entirely on what their role is within the shelter. We have wonderful cat and dog enrichment volunteers who take dogs on walks or play with them in our dog park and socialize with cats in their kennels. Shelter staff do everything from administrative work to working with and assessing animals as part of our behaviour team, coordinating foster volunteers, feeding the animals, treating animals medically, and cleaning kennels. Everyone on the team plays an important role in ensuring the shelter runs efficiently and effectively.

What should people know before adopting a pet?
Adopting a pet is a long-term commitment, so it is important to understand the animal’s needs and ensure that you are prepared to meet them for years before bringing a new pet into your home.

What is your best advice for pet owners?
Pets tend to hide illness, so preventative care like regular wellness check-ups and vaccinations with your veterinarian are crucial to ensure your pet stays happy and healthy. Pet insurance is a worthwhile investment to ensure that your pet can get the care they need if a surprise medical issue occurs.

What is an easy way for community members to help support your organization?
Donate! Without financial donations from our community and supporters, the Windsor/Essex County Humane Society would not exist. Donations are crucial in allowing us to continue to help animals in our community and provide the important services and programs that help so many families and pets in Windsor/Essex.

For more information about Windsor/Essex County Humane Society, visit windsorhumane.org