BLOG Archives - Edmonton Humane Society

Our CEO Reflects on 5 Years at EHS

Last week, I celebrated my 5-year anniversary at the Edmonton Humane Society (EHS). Looking back on the last five years, there is so much to reflect on and be proud of. When I joined EHS as CEO, one of my priorities was to create a new strategic plan. I loved this process as I was able to engage with our community and staff to gather their feedback, allowing us to build a foundation on which EHS could grow. Within the strategic plan, we completed several new projects to help us achieve operational excellence, including a risk management framework, which has helped us identify and mitigate many risks that organizations like ours face. As our current strategic plan will end in 2024, we are excited to continue paving the way with a new visionary plan that will move EHS and animal welfare forward. We have recently completed our first phase of stakeholder and public engagement to help shape this next plan and it has been inspiring to review the results and see the passion our community has for animals. Another highlight has been spending time with the many wonderful staff I have the privilege of working with. When I first started at EHS, I spent time shadowing them in their roles and I've continued to spend time with the team and learn about everything that [...]

By EHS|2024-04-11T15:15:13-06:00April 11, 2024|

Navigating Easter Safety with Pets

Spring is in the air! Easter is a fun-filled time when family assembles, flowers begin to bloom, and treats are consumed. Some favourite childhood memories include creeping down the stairs early in the morning to an Easter egg hunt and an Easter basket filled with goodies, including chocolate bunnies, eggs, and candy, laying on a bed of crinkle paper and wrapped in a beautiful basket covered in glittery foil paper. Sounds like the perfect Easter, doesn’t it? But what about the furry companions in our lives? How can they partake in Easter celebrations while also being safe? This blog post will explore some ways to keep our fur-iends safe while we enjoy the festivities. Chocolate Safety During Easter, the first thing that often comes to mind is chocolate – chocolate bunnies, eggs, and other luxurious delicacies. Keeping your animals away from chocolate is essential to a fun-filled and safe Easter. Here are some things to keep in mind: Toxicity of Chocolate: Chocolate contains theobromine, which is toxic to dogs and cats. Beware of dark chocolate. The darker the chocolate, the higher the theobromine content. This useful Dog Chocolate Toxicity Calculator can determine the level of risk for your pet. Symptoms of Chocolate Poisoning: If your puppy, dog, cat, or kitten gets into your chocolate stash, be aware of the [...]

By EHS|2024-04-11T14:17:21-06:00March 1, 2024|

Setting Our Sights on Our Next Strategic Plan

We’re seeking input from our community on EHS’ future Four years ago, we set out to achieve an ambitious 2020 – 2024 Strategic Plan. But as the saying goes, “the best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry." We had no idea what the world would be facing just a few short months later. Despite having to pivot how we do our work countless times through the pandemic, we’ve been able to make incredible strides towards our goals – with your support. Though we’re not quite at the finish line yet – and we’ll have more to share and celebrate when our 2020 – 2024 Strategic Plan comes to a close – we're already thinking ahead to what’s next. Once again, we’re calling on our community to provide feedback on how we can continue to improve and evolve at the Edmonton Humane Society (EHS). We could not do what we do without our community, including our staff and volunteers, donors and board members, our partners in the field of animal welfare, those who attend our events and utilize our many programs and services, and of course, the families who have opened their hearts and homes by adopting a new furry or feathered companion. You are the backbone of our mission to enrich the lives of people and companion animals. The experiences and [...]

By EHS|2024-02-01T15:05:02-07:00February 1, 2024|

Holiday Hazards for Pets & Top Gift Suggestions

Originally Published: Dec 15, 2021 / Updated: December 4, 2023 Every year we get the opportunity to celebrate many holidays with our pets, which includes lots of food, gifts, and the excitement of gathering with loved ones. With all this activity, it's important to ensure we’re taking some extra precautions for the paws underfoot. To give you some peace of mind when preparing for holiday festivities with your pet, we’re sharing some of our top tips on how to keep pets safe, plus a few gift ideas when you're shopping for a special cat or dog in your life. Mind the Decorations From hanging ornaments to lit candles, both the appearance and presence of your favourite decorations might lead your pet to think of them as toys or things to be chewed on. Here are some common items to watch for: Wrapping, ribbons, tinsel, lights, and small ornaments: If consumed, these may cause your pet to choke or have an internal blockage. Glass and metal hooks: Put delicate items up high to avoid breaks, as these items could cause a nasty scratch or puncture to your pet. Electrical wires: Many animals are prone to chewing on cords, which can lead to electrical shock, burns, and blockages if ingested. Christmas trees and standing displays: Curious pets, [...]

By EHS|2023-12-05T09:23:52-07:00December 1, 2023|

Make an Impact This #GivingTuesday

On Tuesday, November 28, the Edmonton Humane Society is joining #GivingTuesday - a global movement to inspire people to give back to the causes they feel passionate about. Each and every day homeless, neglected and abandoned companion animals enter our doors in need of a warm, safe space and compassionate care until they can find their new families. By making a gift this #GivingTuesday, you can make a difference in their lives and the families who give them a home. Each gift will make a difference in the lives of animals, like Gigi... With a gentle disposition and a loud purr, Gigi came to EHS in need of serious medical help when she contracted an eye infection. When the infection got out of control, her eye needed to be surgically removed so she could start recovery and return to the life of a happy house cat. Thankfully, she was able to get the care she needed for a pain-free life all because of generous animal lovers - like you. Yes, I'm Ready to Make an Impact! As a charity, we understand the value and importance of every dollar. And we know many are facing financial challenges right now. If making a monetary gift isn't possible right now, you can still be a part [...]

By EHS|2023-11-29T08:50:33-07:00November 23, 2023|

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

September 30 is National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. This federal statutory holiday was created in response to Call to Action 80, honouring the Survivors, their families, communities, and those affected by residential schools. We acknowledge that systemic discrimination and trauma are continually present in the lives of Indigenous Peoples. The Edmonton Humane Society's Administrative offices will be closed on Monday, October 2 in observance of this day. As an organization, we have been reflecting and learning about the important history and path forward for truth and reconciliation in Canada, and we encourage our supporters to do the same with the below resources: Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action Calls to Action Accountability: A 2021 Status Update on Reconciliation by the Yellowhead Institute Beyond 94 by CBC – a website that monitors the progress on the Truth and Reconciliation Commissions’ 94 Calls to Action Indigenous Canada – a 12-lesson Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) offered by the Faculty of Native Studies at the University of Alberta Aboriginal Worldviews and Education – online course offered by the University of Toronto Read for Reconciliation Book List by Raven Reads Local organizations to consider volunteering or supporting: Creating Hope Society of Alberta Bent Arrow Canadian Native Friendship Centre Events to participate in: Orange Shirt Day Run/Walk Register Here Panel Discussion: Indigenous [...]

By EHS|2023-09-29T14:51:05-06:00September 29, 2023|

How to Plan a Pet Safe Halloween

Updated: September 26, 2023 Like many holidays, Halloween’s a great excuse to stock up on sweets and treats. Having all of these extra goodies around is not only a major temptation to people, but also our pets. As our friend Dr. Ted Purcell says, “Have a plan for today!” “Treats and candies are not safe in a bag on the floor, a chair or bench – you need to be very mindful on Halloween, not just during, but also before and after.” Beware of These Halloween Hazards for Pets Here are some things for pet guardians to keep in mind to ensure they and their pets have an enjoyable evening. Protect Your Pet from Toxic Treats Amongst all the candies, chocolate is one of the most toxic for pets – Smaller chocolate covered items, such as raisins, are double trouble. Not only are both chocolate and raisins (dried grapes) toxic to pets, but the size and shape mimic many of the popular treats our companion animals may be used to scavenging from under chairs or tucked in cushions. The effect on a pet will depend on the amount and type of chocolate as well as the size of pet. Should your pet ingest something dangerous, we recommend you contact your veterinarian or for [...]

By EHS|2023-10-03T10:16:07-06:00September 29, 2023|

A Guide to Getting Your Home Ready for Visually Impaired Pets

Animals are adept at using multiple senses. Dogs and cats rely heavily on their sense of smell and hearing to navigate their surroundings, so by making use of these senses, we can help our pets feel safe while familiarizing themselves with their new home. Practicing patience and keeping your home environment consistent are important when working with your visually impaired pet. It can take a new pet months to adjust and learn where things are in their new surroundings. Visually impaired companion animals can live a full and happy life with you. In this guide we’ll provide some tips to help your visually impaired pet adjust to life in your home. Utilize Their Sense of Smell Animals rely heavily on their sense of smell. To help your pet learn about the different areas in your home, you can use different scents to assist them in identifying each area. When choosing scents, we recommend consulting with your veterinarian to make sure they’re safe for your pet. Since animals have very sensitive noses, only use small amounts of the scent and always make sure your pet can’t ingest the scent. Help Your Pet Orient Themselves with Textured Surfaces Using textured materials, such as rugs to mark areas in your home, can help your pet learn [...]

By EHS|2023-09-26T15:56:42-06:00August 23, 2023|

Collaborative Leadership in Animal Welfare

Meaningful change within animal welfare requires skilled and collaborative leadership. But what if those in leadership don’t have an animal welfare background? How much of a difference can they make? In truth, a transformative difference. Transformative Difference For over 20 years, Liza Sunley, EHS CEO, has dedicated her career to understanding the underpinnings of organizational success within the charitable sector. In other words, she has become an expert in building successful organizations, based on the foundational pieces supporting the mission and long-term growth of an organization.These foundational pieces include long-term strategies, programming, finance, fundraising, governance and human resources.Organizations addressing critical issues in social services, health, education and environment all require these foundational pieces, and animal welfare is no different.In fact, the more knowledge, perspectives and diversity of experience brought into an animal welfare charity through its leadership, the stronger the organization becomes, which directly benefits the animals. An Animal Welfare Lens Liza completed the Animal Shelter Management Certificate from the University of the Pacific and recently achieved her Certified Animal Welfare Administrator (CAWA) designation from The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement. The CAWA designation is designed to support and recognize best practices within the profession. “These programs were broad, and it wasn’t just about animal care,” says Liza. “It was looking at leadership, [...]

By EHS|2023-06-12T10:31:50-06:00June 12, 2023|

EHS Responds to Coventry Homes Allegations

Edmonton Humane Society Response to Allegations of Sexual Violence and Impropriety at Coventry Homes PUBLIC STATEMENT FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE EDMONTON, AB JUNE 1, 2023 We recently became aware of allegations of sexual violence and impropriety at Coventry Homes. EHS has been a recipient of donations through Coventry Homes since 2008. The Edmonton Humane Society takes allegations of sexual violence extremely seriously and are deeply concerned about this situation. I want to assure our stakeholders that we are actively assessing the situation and gathering information to make informed decisions on our next steps as a recipient organization. At EHS, we value our staff and volunteers. It is one of our core values. We demonstrate this by: Providing a safe working environment. We have established robust policies and procedures to address workplace safety. We are committed to ensuring our employees and volunteers feel safe, respected and supported. Providing clear channels for individuals to report incidents of misconduct, including safety, harassment, abuse and sexual violence. We encourage anyone who has experienced or witnessed such behavior to come forward, and we assure them that their concerns are taken seriously, handled confidentially and followed up with immediately. Taking reports seriously and investigating them swiftly, handling them confidentially and providing follow up information to the complainant. As we continue to gather information about this situation, we will update our [...]

By EHS|2023-06-02T11:17:51-06:00June 1, 2023|