Search Results for: behaviour
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What are the Five Freedoms of Animal Welfare?
For the past 150 years, the Ontario SPCA and Humane Society has provided care, comfort, and compassion to animals in need in communities across Ontario. As we reflect on this milestone anniversary, we want to share the Five Freedoms of Animal Welfare, which guide all that we do and impact the care our animals receive. […]
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September 14, 2023
How to make food puzzles for your cat
Food puzzles are a great way for your cat to receive enrichment while enjoying a snack! Today we’d like to share instructions with you on how to make food puzzles for your cat. Why food puzzles? Not only do animals identify food with their sense of taste, but they also use this sense to explore […]
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September 11, 2023
Training tips: Play biting and mouthing
If you’re the proud parent of a puppy or kitten, chances are you’ve been on the receiving end of some play biting. Play biting, or mouthing, is a normal part of your cat or dog’s development. In this blog we outline why this behaviour is normal, and also how to discourage your furry friend from […]
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August 28, 2023
Cat body language: What is your cat saying?
Knowing how to understand your cat’s body language is valuable. This information can help you understand what the cat is communicating, and then how you can respond, with enrichment, socialization, or behaviour modification. In this blog we’re going to break down some important body language signs for you! What can we learn from a cat’s […]
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August 22, 2023
Inside the family living room at the Provincial Dog Rehabilitation Centre
The Ontario SPCA and Humane Society celebrated the grand opening of its Provincial Dog Rehabilitation Centre in June 2023. The centre was custom-built to help dogs who need more individualized care than a typical animal centre can provide. Operated by the Ontario SPCA’s Animal Behaviour team, the centre provides evidence-based behavioural support to help dogs […]
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August 18, 2023
Snip, snip, hurray! We’ve reached our 150,000th spay/neuter milestone
It’s a special year for the Ontario SPCA and Humane Society. Not only are we celebrating our 150th anniversary in 2023, we also performed our 150,000th spay/neuter procedure! To date, we’ve prevented an incredible 4,010,640 kittens and 2,816,280 puppies from contributing to pet overpopulation. High-volume services To help reduce pet overpopulation, the Ontario SPCA began […]
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August 10, 2023
Pandemic puppies: Adult dog socialization tips
The first three months of a puppy’s life are important to its development as during this time, they are learning, going through a critical period of socialization and accepting new things. But what do you do if that window of opportunity is missed? Many puppies born during the pandemic were under-socialized due to social distancing […]
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August 8, 2023
Snip, snip, hurray! The Ontario SPCA performs its 150,000th spay/neuter procedure
IMMEDIATE RELEASE Stouffville, ON (Aug. 8, 2023) – As it celebrates its 150th anniversary, the Ontario SPCA and Humane Society has reached another major milestone, performing its 150,000th spay/neuter procedure since it began offering high volume spay/neuter services to the public in 2009. To help reduce pet overpopulation, the Ontario SPCA began offering high volume spay/neuter services […]
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July 18, 2023
More bark than bite: Changing dogs’ barking habits
A dog’s bark can be very useful; for showing their human something they want or need, or to warn of a possible intruder. But if it gets out of hand, your dog’s barking can be a nuisance to you, and your neighbours! Reasons behind your dog barking The first step to changing your dog’s barking […]
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July 17, 2023
Behind the scenes of helping VIP animals find forever homes
You may have noticed the “VIP” status on our adoption page, which stands for “Very Important Paws.” These furry friends are animals in our care who may need a little extra support finding a home. There are countless people involved in helping these VIP animals find forever homes, including animal care teams and foster volunteers. […]
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July 6, 2023
What your rabbit’s body language is telling you
If you’re considering adopting a rabbit, or if you already have one in your home – it’s important to understand rabbit behaviour and body language. Rabbits are prey animals and timid by nature, so you need to be patient if your rabbit seems shy at first. Hand-feeding treats helps to engage the rabbit and reinforce […]
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June 27, 2023
Provincial Dog Rehabilitation Centre gives deaf dog a second chance
When Beam arrived at the Ontario SPCA Midland & District Animal Centre in September 2022 from a shelter that was at capacity and needed help finding him a home, it was clear he would need a special kind of TLC. Upon his arrival, Beam tested positive for tick borne illnesses (Lyme and Ehrlicha) and had […]
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