The year 2025 brought wagging tails and joyful purrs to thousands of households across Windsor-Essex, as the local humane society successfully found permanent homes for a significant number of animals in need.
A Year of Second Chances for Local Animals
The Windsor/Essex County Humane Society finalized adoptions for nearly 2,600 pets in 2025, averaging close to ten new families formed every single day by the year's conclusion. While the annual total of 2,568 adoptions was slightly below the figures for 2024 (2,668) and 2023 (over 3,000), the achievement represents a powerful community effort to provide animals with loving futures.
Executive Director Lynnette Bain noted that the year began with a slower pace for adoptions. "We were low in inventory of animals, especially dogs," Bain explained. "But as we got busier and had more animals get out in the community, we really ramped up the number of adoptions." The shelter made a conscious decision not to bring in animals from outside the region, such as the United States, focusing instead on the local pet population.
Community Events Drive Adoption Surge
The adoption momentum was powerfully boosted by a series of targeted outreach initiatives. Open houses at the shelter, a new promotional event at Devonshire Mall, and a dedicated week-long adoption drive in partnership with PetSmart Charities proved to be major catalysts. These events directly connected potential adopters with pets, leading to a significant increase in placements.
"Once we launched these events, adoptions really picked up," Bain said. "People want to meet the animals, and the community has been so supportive." Cats and kittens comprised the majority of adopted animals, with dogs accounting for approximately 25 percent. The remainder included smaller companions like rabbits, gerbils, and birds.
New Leadership and a Focus on Accessible Care
For Bain, 2025 marked her first year at the helm of the organization, which she described as a steep learning curve. The role involves managing not only adoptions but also animal surrenders, stray intake, welfare investigations, and the society's veterinary clinic.
This comprehensive perspective led to the launch of an innovative pilot program in December called Helping Paws: Pet Health Access for Vulnerable Households. Created in partnership with the Windsor Essex Housing Corporation, this mobile clinic initiative was inspired, in part, by recent local outbreaks of canine parvovirus—a deadly threat to unvaccinated dogs.
The program's primary goals are to increase access to essential veterinary services for low-income residents. Volunteers and veterinarians focus on:
- Microchipping pets for permanent identification.
- Treating common issues like fleas and ear mites.
- Administering crucial vaccinations, including for parvovirus.
"The first month was intense, but it really highlighted the need to be more involved in the community and reach people who might not otherwise have access to care," Bain told the Windsor Star. This community-focused approach, combining successful adoption drives with proactive health outreach, defined a year of progress and compassion for Windsor-Essex's pets and their human companions.
