What do we need?

Two VERY reasonable requests:

1. The development of an online list/report of Deceased Animals found within the last 30 days.

2. A database of lost pets submitted to the city that is accessible to the public through the PetHarbor website (used by the Ottawa Humane Society) or the city’s website.

Context:

I recently spoke with the Ottawa Humane Society’s (OHS) Lost and Found Pets Department, and they informed me of the following:

1. The OHS has been understaffed for quite some time. They are currently hiring more employees and hope to be able to be more responsive; however, this will take time, so patience is needed.

2. Deceased pets are scanned twice for a microchip.

3. Their current record of deceased pets goes back to 2020.

4. The OHS gets the report from the city of Ottawa every Tuesday.

5. Only positive or close matches can see the found pets in “the back” to avoid contracting illness or disease.

Call to Action:

The City of Toronto has a detailed list of Deceased Dogs and Cats. It also has two databases for registering lost pets: PetHarbor and PetFBI (internet-wide, but referenced as an additional resource by the City of Toronto). I think our city would very much benefit from having these resources as well. Especially considering what has happened in the past with their system of storing dead animals.

The city and OHS already have these records such as their Dead On Arrival (DOA) binder. However, not everyone has the time to go OHS everyday to see the binder. This was back in 2019, when the public had the option to see the list at OHS. Ever since the pandemic, the list is not available at the front of the Lost & Found department for the public. Most owners are asked to call instead to have an OHS staff check the DOA records.

 

 

The city vowed back in late June 2019 to fix its system of reuniting dead pets with their owners. It is 2023 now and there has not been enough significant changes. In fact, there is even less transparency as owners are no longer able to access these facilities or see the DOA binder. What I am proposing can help significantly improve its system.

As for the database of lost pets, most lost pet owners submit a report to both the city and the OHS. However, some also post on social media where they can rely on the neighbourhood community and lost&found pet groups on social media for potential sightings and additional support. Having a lost pet database will help reassure families that their pets still remain on record as lost until they are found. It will also help the community and volunteer groups have an additional resource they can refer to when a resident posts a sighting of an animal. 

Unfortunately, both the city and the OHS have given inadequate responses. Therefore, more action is needed to urge them to act now.

IMPORTANT NOTE: As per the City of Ottawa's petition policies for electronic petitions, petitioners must provide name, address and a valid email address. Please kindly be aware that I will reach out to you via email to obtain/confirm the information.

Source Links:

Mills, Stu. "City vows to fix 'horrifying' system for storing dead pets." CBC, June 24, 2019. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/city-vows-fix-horrifying-system-storing-dead-pets-1.5185158

Images of the DOA binder taken from: https://www.facebook.com/groups/141770956469141/permalink/447457829233784/

Ward 24 - Barrhaven East - Councillor Wilson Lo's responses: https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid023cDXFMRwLDojqBLg5y3g6vDNQn1NAyvbGWLtiikuF8MC2LtqrwjKnXi5wnkkxjDSl&id=100093683656070&sfnsn=mo&mibextid=RUbZ1f

Ottawa Humane Society's Response and my response: https://www.reddit.com/r/ottawa/comments/14prlsm/please_help_improve_the_city_of_ottawas_animalpet/jqoffom?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android_app&utm_name=androidcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=2

City of Toronto's DOA List: https://www.toronto.ca/data/mls/animals/deceasedanimals.html

City of Toronto's PetHabour Database of Lost Pets: http://petharbor.com/search.asp?searchtype=LOST&bgcolor=639ace&text=ffffff&link=FEFF81&alink=FF814A&vlink=FEFF81&col_hdr_bg=004d84&col_hdr_fg=efeff7&col_bg=004d84&col_fg=ffffff&SBG=004d84&&rows=10&imght=120&imgres=thumb&view=sysadm.v_animal_short&fontface=arial&zip=m&miles=10&SHELTERLIST=%27TRNT1%27,%27TRNT%27,%27TRNT2%27,%27TRNT3%27,%27TRNT4%27,%27TRNT5%27

Pet FBI (Additional Resource sited by City of Toronto to help widen search): https://petfbi.org/

July 8th, 2023 update on City's responses: https://facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid0RgP38RXnJumpddubwiFN3qSp5YPJJVqzQkgbDXhLzowriJSkeWtCEPEaqmiijCvWl&id=100093683656070&sfnsn=mo&mibextid=RUbZ1f