OSPCA spay/neuter clinic celebrates 5-year anniversary

In February 2009, the Ontario SPCA opened the doors to its first high volume spay/neuter clinic. 

In those five years, the clinic has performed more than 25,000 spay/neuter surgeries and seen cat admission reductions of 18% across Ontario SPCA branches province-wide. 

The OSPCA was recognized by its peers last year with a Community Compliance Summit Award and  earlier this month, Subscribers selected this Innovation to present a keynote address at the 2014 Regional Conferences in Calgary and Vancouver. 

"What these statistics show is that having your pet spayed or neutered directly helps address the pet overpopulation crisis," says Judith Aubin, Regional Manager of Ontario SPCA Spay/Neuter Clinics. 

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OSPCA demonstrates exceptional Community Compliance

Eric Coulson (Pets Plus Us) and Tonya Martin (OSPCA)

Nearly five years ago, the Ontario SPCA opened its first high volume spay/neuter clinic in Newmarket, Ontario. Later that year following unprecedented demand, it opened its second in Barrie. Right away, the clinics received hundreds of calls daily as the pet-owning public sought a low-cost, high quality option to sterilize their animals. 

When demand continued to rise, the OSPCA opened another clinic in Lincoln County in December 2012. As a group, the three clinics have sterilized more than 44,000 animals since 2009 and succeeded in reducing province-wide cat intake by 18%. 

For their successes, the Ontario SPCA was invited to speak during the 2013 Central Regional Conference's Regional Innovation Showcase. From there, delegates nominated the presentation to share at the 2013 Summit for Urban Animal Strategies. Additionally, the Ontario SPCA was awarded a 2013 Summit Award for Community Compliance which recognizes efforts to increase the overall level of compliance in a community from the development of best practices or codes of ethical conduct in the area of licensing, identification, spay/neuter, wellness, recreation, breeding or standards of care. 

"Pet overpopulation is a community problem. Each year, tens of thousands of dogs and cats end up on the streets, where they fall victim to neglect and abuse, or in shelters in search of new homes. Spaying and neutering can reduce shelter intake and euthanasia in your community," Alison Cross, Ontario SPCA 

Tonya Martin, senior manager of Animal Welfare and Operations at the OSPCA, was presented with the award during the 2013 Summit Award Tour by award sponsor Pets Plus Us. Clinic stakeholders are confident this measure can help reduce and possibly eliminate the cat overpopulation crisis affecting many Ontario communities. 

Summit 2013 Poll 1 WINNERS!

The 2013 Summit Awards gala is underway. Winners of the first poll have been announced! 

Community Compliance 

Ontario SPCA with 50% of the votes

Distinguished Service Provider 

Kitchener-Waterloo Humane Society with 61% of the votes

Product or Service Innovation 

Working on Our Future with 33% of the votes

Sheltering 

Animal Welfare Agency of South Central Ontario with 54% of the votes

Stay tuned for Poll 2 winners! 

Poll 1 Summit Awards Update - Current Leaders

The current leaders in Poll 1 of the 2013 YourSay™ Summit Awards are identified below. Those who haven't yet voted can still honour industry nominees by clicking on the VOTE NOW link below:

Community Compliance
There are 3 Nominations in this category which features a tie:

40% Ontario SPCA – Judith Aubin
40% Toronto Animal Services – Mary Lou Leiher 

20% BC Legislature – Jane Thornthwaite 

Distinguished Service Provider
There are 5 Nominations in this category:

26% Grand River Vet Hospital – Dr. Tammy Hornak  

23% London Animal Centre – Kent Lattanzio 

19% Atlantic Veterinary College – Dr. Peter Foley 

Product or Service Innovation
There are 4 Nominations in this category:

44% Pets Plus Us – Randy Valpy

35% Woof + Nova Scotia Department of Justice – Angela Poirier 

11% Poooh Busters 

Sheltering
There are 7 Nominations in this category:

26% Calgary Humane - Mark Takhar

19% Petland (Red Deer) – Amy Pawson

17% BC SPCA – Craig Daniell 

VOTE NOW

Polls close Thursday, 10 October 2013. 

REVIEW NOMINATIONS

The 2013 Summit Awards will be presented during the Awards Gala on Friday, 18 October 2013. This event is open to the public.

Summit Award Update October 1st

With only 9 days until the YourSay™ Summit Award Polls close. The current leaders for Survey 1 are:


Community Compliance:
Ontario SPCA - Judith Aubin with 34% of the vote

Distinguished Service Provider:
Grand River Vet Hospital - Dr. Tammy Hornak with 28% of the vote

Product or Service Innovation:
WOOF - Nova Scotia Department of Justice - Angela Poirier with 41% of the vote

Sheltering:
Calgary Humane - Mark Takhar with 31% of the vote


The Polls close Thursday, 10 October 2013. 

Have YourSay™ VOTE NOW!

The 2013 Summit Awards will be presented during the Awards Gala on Friday, 18 October 2013. This event is open to the public.

Voting Begins for Community Compliance Summit

Three finalists vie for the Urban Animal Industry's highest award in Community Compliance:

1. Jane Thornthwaite, an elected member of the BC Government, was nominated by the Pacific Region Conference delegates for the introduction of legislation to create standards for ethical breeding.
2. The Ontario SPCA was selected by the Central Region Conference delegates for the development of the High Volume Spey/Neutre program which has lowered the admission of Cats to area shelters.
3. The City of Toronto, Animal Services was nominated by the Central Region Conference delegates for the development of the Chip Truck which demonstrated pet owners are sensitive to value added licensing.

The Summit for Community Compliance recognizes efforts to increase the overall level of compliance in a community from the development of best practices or codes of ethical conduct in the area of licensing, identification, spay/neuter, wellness, recreation, breeding or standards of care. The 2013 Summit for Community Compliance will be presented during the Awards Gala on Friday, 18 October 2013. This event is open to the public. 

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Edmonton Humane Society receives 2012 Summit for Community Compliance

Earlier this year, the Edmonton Humane Society (EHS) joined forces with Waterloo Ford Lincoln to pioneer a public awareness campaign aimed at keeping dogs out of cars in the hot summer months. For this unique partnership, the EHS was presented with its 2012 Summit for Community Compliance 12 December 2012. 

Sponsored by Royal Sun Alliance (RSA), the Summit for Community Compliance rewards organizations that make efforts to increase the overall level of compliance in a community using a broad definition of responsibility, related best practices, standards and national codes of conduct. 

Left to Right: Rick Brown, VP and GM of Waterloo Ford Lincoln; Shawna Randolph, EHS spokesperson; Officer Taylor, EHS Animal Protection Peace Officer; Lundy Prokopetz, Petsecure Pet Health Insurance

The EHS and Waterloo Ford Lincoln are taking this opportunity enter into the second phase of their "Pets in Vehicles" sticker campaign. Shoppers are being reminded about the dangers they put their pets in by leaving animals alone in vehicles during extreme cold weather.

"This award winning partnership is vital in order to help prevent tragedies," said EHS CEO Stephanie McDonald. "The EHS is delighted that the campaign has gained national recognition, thanks to so many responsible pet owners taking part over the past several months." 

Waterloo Ford Lincoln sponsored the production of 100,000 window stickers to remind people about the dangers of leaving animals in vehicles any time of the year. 

"The EHS went above and beyond to educate and bring awareness and compliance to pet owners and the community," said Lundy Prokopetz of Petsecure Pet Health Insurance, who nominated the EHS for the award. "Their effort, along with Waterloo Ford Lincoln, is saving lives year round." 

Summit - Community Compliance Award

Organizations that make efforts to increase the overall level of compliance in a community using a broad definition of responsibility, related best practices, standards and national codes of conduct are sought as nominees for the ISUAS Community Compliance award, presented by PetLynx Corporation. 

Examples of compliance may include, but are not limited to, animal licensing / identification, spay / neuter programs, veterinary wellness programs, leash laws, genetic testing and standards of care.

NOMINATION FORM

For its admirable achievements improving the welfare of street cats in Toronto, the Toronto Humane Society Trap Neuter Release Program picked up the 2011 award in Quebec. 

Through spaying about 60 street cats each month, building over-wintering shelters for colonies in need and educating the public on the importance of Trap  Neuter Return. All TNR cats are sterilized, vaccinated and tagged leading to a 16 to 32 per cent decrease in colony sizes in one to three years. 

VISIT THE THS TNR WEBSITE