Help Save The MOTS Foster Dog Program

MOTS Inc. in Sarnia, Ontario, runs a program called The MOTS Foster Dog program and it allows people, who are unable to care for their dog, to surrender their dog to MOTS. The dogs are then taken for vet checks, cared for, fed, rehabilitated and socialized with other dogs so they can re-enter society without any aggression and without being afraid. The dogs are then put up for adoption and while waiting for adoption, they are placed in foster homes throughout the Sarnia community. MOTS Inc. provides the foster homes with food, toys, and all other main necessities for taking care of the dog. While the dogs are in their foster homes, they are also brought to the MOTS facility for daycare during the day. As a thank you for their help, the foster homes receive 4 hours of free daycare for their own (if they have one) for each night they have a foster dog in their home. Right now there are about 17 families who have opened their homes to be a foster parent to a dog until it is adopted.

There are no adoptions fees unless the dog has needed shots or vet care, then the adoptive home may be asked to reimburse those costs. The adopting home must also agree to have the dog fixed but no actual fees are included with that agreement. The adopting home must also agree to obtain a city license for the dog and take over the vet file. MOTS Inc. then donates 40 hours of free daycare to the adopting home and a free 6 week obedience course to help them learn to communicate with their new family member and work out any issues. This helps the program keep an eye on their progress over the first few months of transition.

Michelle has a facility in which she welcomes everyone into her facility (with proof of vaccination) with kindness and respect.  She runs this program strictly through fundraisers, donations and her own money. Those who assist her in the facility and the foster families are all volunteers.

Michelle was recently informed she must license all the dogs in the program or she ultimately she cannot have them.  Michelle was also informed she can only license a maximum of 3 dogs to her name and she is unable to license the dogs to MOTS Inc. With this news, Michelle has had no other choice, but to shutdown the Foster Dog Program until all of this can be sorted out.

This is very unfortunate as this program does so much good for this city and for animals. Last year, the program helped rehabilitate and find new homes for over 70 dogs. Most of these dogs were aggressive and had behavioral problems, but with the wonderful work of Michelle, they were rehabilitated and able to have a second chance at a happy life. Michelle has already had to turn away several people looking to surrender their dogs to her as they are unable to provide for them and do not want to bring them to the Humane Society. Without this program these animals are lost, homeless and alone.

Our Sarnia bylaws do not account in any way for animal rescues as they did not exist at the time the bylaws were written. What the bylaw does allow for is a 'dog run' not for profit under Section 16B. The city Clerk may grant an exception to the bylaw under this provision. In the short term this is what we are asking for, however long term the bylaw needs to be amended to account for any other, current and future, animal rescues which foster the animals in the community.

These dogs deserve a second chance at a happy life and this program helps them follow down the right path and find them their forever home.

We, the undersigned, are requesting MOTS Inc. receive an exemption under Section 16b of the City of Sarnia Animal Control bylaw (#234) until such time as the bylaw can be amended to regulate present and future animal rescue organizations.