Owen Sound Animal Shelter

ABOUT US

The Owen Sound Animal Shelter provides animal control for the City of Owen Sound, Georgian Bluffs, Hanover, Saugeen First Nations and Saugeen Shores. We are also the holding Shelter for Grey Highlands Animal Control.

The Shelter cares for stray animals until owners can reclaim them and also provides an opportunity for people to adopt a pet into a loving home. Renee and Todd Robins, Animal Control and By-Law Officers for the City of Owen Sound, have been operating the Shelter since April 1, 1999.

Renee has spent her life working with animals. Her specialty is training in animal behaviour and behaviour modification, coupled with animal health and first aid, anatomy, physiology, microbiology and animal nutrition. She has rounded off her training with media relations. Renee has also worked for the Animal Care Network and has worked in the private sector. Todd has worked in the private sector and trained in the enforcement field. Todd also worked at a vet clinic for 13 years and now runs the day-to-day management and operations of OSAS. Together they make a dedicated team and are devoted to helping animals not only find their "forever homes" but helping animals in need.

The Owen Sound Animal Shelter is located at 2125 18th Avenue East, Owen Sound, ON N4K 1W8 and telephone 519.372.1123.

Animal control is provided by the Shelter 24 hours a day; 7 days a week.

And by mail at: Renee and Todd Robins c/o Owen Sound Animal Shelter, Box 13, Allenford, ON N0H 1A0.

Shelter Visiting Hours:

Mon - Fri: 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Saturday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Pager Number: 519-373-5721 (After 10:00 p.m. - emergencies only please.)

We are here to:

provide care to injured, abused and homeless animals, either return or find loving homes for the animals,
serve the animal control needs of the community, and
sell dog and cat tags (deadline each year is March 31st).

We make every possible effort to have all the animals adopted out. However, we will not adopt out a known biting dog or a known sick animal.

NEW PROGRAMS

A spay and neuter program was started at the Shelter to reduce the cat over-population in the Owen Sound area (80% of the cats leaving the Shelter are sterilized first).
Shelter dogs will also have access to the spay and neuter program.
A bite prevention program has recently been started in the elementary schools to help protect local children from injury.
A program to teach the importance of pet sterilization to elementary school students is under production.
A volunteer program with community services has been started. Those needing to serve community work hours may now do so at the Shelter.
A mentor program with Hillcrest School has also been underway for a short time. This permits children with failing grades to earn bonus marks through volunteering.
We try to have local dog trainers spend a few hours a week evaluating dogs to ensure all adopted will make good pets.