EHS, Author at Edmonton Humane Society

Sam and Sophie’s Legacy

Sam and Sophie left more than a permanent paw print on their guardians’ hearts when they passed away -- they left a legacy supporting thousands of animals in need at the Edmonton Humane Society. About Sam and Sophie Sam, the smart and cuddly Pekingese/poodle cross, was always up for an adventure. Whether it be by foot or car, he was in! Exploring the world through his nose on walks was his favourite activity, but there was nothing Sam loved more than cuddling and relaxing in the evenings with his guardians and friend Sophie. Sophie was Sam’s complimentary opposite. Joining the family two years after Sam, Sophie - the shih-tzu/ poodle/cocker spaniel mix - enjoyed the comforts of home and the company of her people. She preferred to leave meeting new people, travel and adventuring to her friend Sam. Instead, Sophie took pride in protecting her home and ensuring her guardians knew how loved each of them were by her. Both Sam and Sophie enriched the lives of their guardians daily and were deeply loved. They also shared a special bond with each other. In 2020, Sam passed away at the age of 16 and twelve days later, Sophie followed. Their Unique Legacy “The loss of Sam and Sophie was more difficult for us than we [...]

By EHS|2022-12-17T11:05:08-07:00December 6, 2022|

Recognizing EHS Supporters on National Philanthropy Day

November 15, 2022, marks National Philanthropy Day, a day for the Edmonton Humane Society (EHS) to say thank you to our community of supporters! This year, we were proud to recognize two outstanding Edmontonians who have made an indelible mark on our work and in the lives of companion animals: Jay Downton and Harmony Doderai. Both received awards for their philanthropy efforts and contributions to EHS at the 24th Annual National Philanthropy Day event, hosted by the Association of Fundraising Professionals Edmonton and Area Chapter. Jay Downton - Community Enrichment Award Jay Downton, a passionate Edmontonian, entrepreneur and President of Oodle Noodle and the Nation Network was recognized by the Edmonton Humane Society for his support and philanthropy benefitting our organization for the past few years. Whether financial contributions - now at over $10,000 - through the sharing of his creative resources to bring attention to EHS, or as a sponsor for our annual Pets in the Park event, Jay and his team have had a direct impact on our ability to reach new audiences and supporters through their vast network of followers. Jay leads through innovation and altruism, which sets an example for others to follow. A lover of all animals, especially his own Dachshund named Hotdog, Jay inspires others to support the Edmonton Humane Society. “I’m super [...]

By EHS|2022-11-15T17:44:37-07:00November 15, 2022|

How To Know If Your Pet Is Overweight

Obesity is a common health problem for our companion animals. For many pet lovers, an overweight animal is an unfortunate reality, and one that can cause issues for pets and pet guardians alike. For National Pet Obesity Awareness Day, we want to help you identify if your pet is overweight and suggest some diets that can help support your pet reaching a healthier weight. How Do You Know If Your Pet Is Obese? Check out these obesity charts for both dogs and cats, so you can see how your pet’s weight compares. What Do You Do If Your Pet Is Obese? We recommend always asking your vet for guidance first and considering changes in your pet’s diet and physical activity. To help manage your dog or cat’s weight, ORIJEN® pet food has specially crafted formulas made to help support a healthy weight in dogs and cats. This includes ORIJEN Fit & Trim Recipe for dogs, a lean, protein-rich recipe to help support a healthy body weight in dogs, and ORIJEN Fit & Trim Recipe for cats, a food that includes balanced calories from protein and fat, plus naturally occurring L-carnitine to help maintain a healthy body weight. Taking your pet for more frequent or longer walks and adding extra play time, is a great way to increase your pet’s daily [...]

By EHS|2022-10-12T13:48:29-06:00October 12, 2022|

NEWS RELEASE: Adoption Fees Reduced for ‘Adorable Adopt-a-thon’

NEWS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ADOPTION FEES REDUCED FOR ‘ADORABLE ADOPT-A-THON’ Edmonton Humane Society encouraging pet adoptions with reduced fees until Sunday, June 5 Edmonton, AB (May 31, 2022) – Those who have been thinking of adding a new furry or feathered family member may wish to do so this week. For the first time since January 2020, the Edmonton Humane Society (EHS) is reducing the adoption fees for all their animals during the ‘Adorable Adopt-a-thon’ until this Sunday, June 5. “We currently have over 60 animals – including dogs, puppies, cats, kittens, rabbits and guinea pigs - in search of new, loving families, and approximately 200 in our care,” said Liza Sunley, CEO of the Edmonton Humane Society. “Our hope is that the reduced fees will nudge people who have been thinking of getting a new pet to come meet these adorable adoptable animals.” The animal shelter recently re-opened their doors to walk-in visitors after operating by appointment since the onset of the pandemic. Potential adopters can now view animals and initiate the adoption process either in-person or online. After submitting an adoption request, a consultation and meet-and-greet is set up to review the animal’s behaviour and medical history, and lifestyle needs, ensuring the adoption is a match for both the people and pet. “The companionship and unconditional love of a pet – [...]

By EHS|2022-10-12T12:58:08-06:00May 31, 2022|

NEWS RELEASE: EHS Re-opens to Walk-in Visitors

NEWS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE EDMONTON HUMANE SOCIETY ANNOUNCES RE-OPENING Animal shelter now open to walk-in adoptions after two years of operating by appointment Edmonton, AB (May 20, 2022) – In advance of the May long weekend, the Edmonton Humane Society (EHS) has announced it is re-opening its doors, after operating by appointment for the past two years. Services including animal adoptions, Bingo’s Pet Shop, and the Muddy Paws dog wash will now be available on a walk-in basis as of today at 12 p.m. “Our incredible community has been so understanding and supportive through our service changes as we’ve navigated the pandemic with the rest of the world,” said Liza Sunley, CEO of the Edmonton Humane Society. “These changes were invaluable to keeping our staff, volunteers, and greater community safe while maintaining our vital services for animals in need.” “While safety remains of the utmost importance with COVID-19 still a reality, we are thrilled we can now open the doors and welcome the community into our beautiful facility too.” The animal shelter was forced to close its doors in March 2020 with the uncertainty of the pandemic. Over time, programs and services were re-launched virtually or by-appointment, including animal adoptions. While potential adopters will now be able to view animals and initiate the adoption process in-person at the animal shelter, the option to [...]

By EHS|2022-10-12T12:58:08-06:00May 20, 2022|

EHS Supports EPS’ Announcement of Animal Cruelty Investigation Unit

MEDIA STATEMENT FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE EDMONTON HUMANE SOCIETY SUPPORTS EPS’ ANNOUNCEMENT OF ANIMAL CRUELTY INVESTIGATION UNIT EDMONTON, AB (November 23, 2021) – The Edmonton Humane Society (EHS) is thrilled to learn today that the Edmonton Police Service (EPS) has launched an Animal Cruelty Investigation Unit. EHS wholeheartedly supports the move by EPS to have a dedicated unit for investigating concerns of animal cruelty. Animal abuse persists in our community, and we see first-hand in our work caring for animals the unfortunate lasting effects that it can have on the those involved. It is critical that these cases be attended to by law enforcement professionals both for the protection of animals as well as people. The evidence of the violence link between harm towards animals and people is undeniable, and with focused, timely attention on these cases by EPS the lives of both animals and people will be saved. We are proud to be in a community with a police service that recognizes the importance of the violence link and applaud EPS for their steps to address it with this new investigation unit. We look forward to continuing working with Const. Ilka Cunningham, Const. Ted Dyck, the newly formed ACIU team, as well as our partners at the City of Edmonton’s Animal Care & Control Centre to provide our services in whatever way we can [...]

By EHS|2021-11-24T21:09:21-07:00November 23, 2021|

New Partnership Aims to Prevent Surrenders of Sick & Injured Pets

New Partnership Aims to Prevent Surrenders of Sick & Injured Pets Edmonton Humane Society and Tails of Help Launch Pilot Project to Keep Pets with their Families We're thrilled to announce today that we have joined forces with Tails of Help, another local charity, to launch a new pilot project that aims to reduce surrenders of sick and injured pets when their guardians face financial hardship. The goal during this pilot is to help one family per month receive essential veterinary care for their pet due to unexpected, one-time incidents so that they can keep their pet in their home. “We’ve all faced tough times in life where one unexpected bill – such as for a sick or injured pet – forces us to make an impossible choice,” said Liza Sunley, CEO of the Edmonton Humane Society. “It’s a heartbreaking decision for someone to have to surrender or euthanize their pet because they cannot afford the necessary veterinary care. With this program, Tails of Help and EHS can help them get through these challenges and maintain that human-animal bond.” Of the nearly 500 companion animals who were surrendered into EHS’ care in the past 18 months, just over 10% of them were due to financial hardship or pet health-related reasons. This is consistent with the rate that was seen in 2019, [...]

By EHS|2021-08-12T12:10:22-06:00August 12, 2021|

Introducing Our New Adoption Process

A Better Adoption Experience for People & Pets EHS Becomes First Shelter in Canada to Adopt New Technology, Adōpets The Edmonton Humane Society (EHS) has adopted a new technology, Adōpets, to create a better adoption experience for people and get animals into loving homes faster. The new system launches today, Tuesday June 1, and will help us automate and simplify the adoption process. By doing so, we can spend more time on what matters most: matching people and pets to facilitate happy and successful lifelong bonds. EHS strives to be a model of excellence in animal welfare and sheltering and will be the first animal shelter in Canada to fully launch Adōpets. As the world becomes increasingly digital, it’s important we embrace the latest technology to do our jobs as best as we can now and into the future. A few of the benefits Adōpets will bring for adopters include: The ability to view multiple photos of EHS adoptables. Additional search filters and info on the available animals – such as size – helping you find your perfect pet. Your own adopter account to save your info and favourite pets. You no longer have to restart the whole process every time you find a pet you’re interested in. No more daily limits on adoption requests. We can accept your [...]

By EHS|2021-06-03T14:52:14-06:00June 1, 2021|

Caring For Canines During Covid

Behaviour During COVID 5 Canine Considerations There is no denying that 2020 caused a major disruption in our lives. It has also caused a lot of change for our canine companions. Some changes to our routine or schedule may benefit our pets, but others can cause stress. Below we've assembled a few tips and resources to help prevent behavioural issues from developing while we move through 2021 with our best furr-iends. 1. Socialize Your New Puppy Socialization promotes healthy development and that can prevent future behavioural issues. During times of social distancing and gathering restrictions, it has made it difficult to get young puppies the appropriate socialization they need to thrive. Puppies undergo a sensitive developmental period until about 3-4 months of age, where they learn about their world and develop important memories. If a puppy is inadequately socialized or has negative experiences during this period, it can cause them to develop fearful behaviour. That is why it is essential that your puppy is introduced to various experiences during that time. We've developed a free printable resource on basic Puppy Socialization, which you can find along with others on our Behaviour Resources page. Socialization activities may need to be modified to follow public health measures, so we're sharing some strategies which allow for social distancing: Bring your puppy outside in [...]

By EHS|2021-03-28T17:01:09-06:00March 23, 2021|

An Introduction To Clicker Training

November 9th, 2020 An Introduction To Clicker Training Clicker training is an easy and effective way to train your pet so we wanted to share some helpful tips to help you get started. A clicker is a wonderful tool used to train all types of animals! Used in training basic obedience, tricks, and behavioural modification. The clicker creates a sharp sound that marks the precise moment when your dog does something correctly. Because the sound of the clicker is so distinct, it makes it easy for a dog to recognize exactly what they did right. The clicker sound replaces words like, “good dog!” If a dog is startled by the clicker sound, you can use a softer clicker or use a verbal marker, such as saying the word “yes.” For deaf dogs, you can use a hand signal or flashlight. Loading the Clicker The clicker works because it is paired with food. The clicker itself is a neutral object until the dog learns (with repetition) that the clicker sound is quickly followed by a yummy treat! This is called classical conditioning. When the dog hears the click, they know food is coming! To get your dog to understand what the click means, take a handful of treats or kibble. Click the clicker (avoid clicking next to your dog’s ears) and drop a treat for your dog. Make sure the click comes before the food, and not after! Repeat this until you’ve finished the handful of treats or [...]

By EHS|2020-11-09T17:00:30-07:00November 3, 2020|

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