Our Wish List - Our Wish List

Our Wish List

Frequently Asked Questions

Did you know? The best way to support the Oakville & Milton Humane Society (OMHS) is with a financial donation. It provides us the flexibility to purchase food, medicine and necessary items for the animals when we need them.  Our needs are constantly changing!  Your financial support also enables us to maximize our purchasing power when buying in bulk as well as take advantage of discounts provided specifically to shelters.  If you would prefer to purchase or donate in-kind items, please note that the Wish List items listed below are the ONLY ones we will accept. You can also purchase items for OMHS from our online gift registry through Ren’s Pets – these are exactly the items we need AND they can be delivered directly to us!

Items left at the shelter, even if they are the most well-intended donations, end up costing us extra to dispose of, or to relocate. Resources that could be used to help vulnerable animals are reduced each time items not on our Wish List are left at the shelter. We are fortunate to be on a feeding program with Royal Canin for our maintenance diets, so we do not require pet food for the shelter animals. Whether you are making a financial gift and/or donating needed items listed below, we sincerely appreciate your support! The items listed below can be dropped off during our business hours.

(We DO NOT accept opened or expired bags of food)

 Other items accepted:

  • Gift cards (Canadian Tire, Amazon, Dollarama, Home Depot, gas cards, pet retailers) and Canadian Tire money
  • Rollover
  • Towels
  • Blankets
  • Small to medium bird toys
  • 5/8″ training leashes 6-7′ long
  • Dry cat food
  • Canned Cat food
  • Dry dog food
  • Canned dog food
  • Care Fresh small animal bedding
  • Cheese Whiz
  • Long Lines (for training dogs)
  • Cat litter
  • Paper towels
  • Kleenex
  • Ziplock sandwich bags
  • Baby gates
  • Cat carriers
  • Newspaper

Please check back often, as our wish list items are regularly updated to reflect changing needs.

Updated September 2024

Do you take pillows?

Thank you so much for thinking of the animals. Unfortunately, we are not able to accept pillows due to disease control and being unable to properly clean them.

I want to donate some food, but it's just past the expiry date. Can you take it?

Thank you for thinking of us but we are unable to accept expired foods. We are fortunate to be on a feeding program with Royal Canin which allows us to keep the animals on a consistent diet which is best for their health.

Do you accept donations of open bags of food or treats?

Thank you for thinking of us but unfortunately, we can’t accept open bags of food or treats.

My pet just died. May I donate all his/her stuff - beds, collars, food, medications, toys, etc.

We are so sorry. We are sure this has been a very difficult time for you/your family. Unfortunately, due to restrictions as they relate to animal safety and disease control, we are unable to accept these items.

We're having a party, fundraiser, (for kids), and are wondering what are some things you need that we can ask people to purchase in lieu of gifts.

That’s great to hear. Thank you. Many years of experience have proven that the best way to support the animals is through a financial donation. This gives us maximum flexibility to obtain exactly what food and other items we need, when we need it. Many animals come to us in need of veterinary health or dental care and with special dietary needs. Would you/your child be willing to ask for donations in lieu of gifts?

• If yes – Thank you. We will provide a tax receipt to the donor for any cash donation greater than $20. We will simply need the name, address, email and phone number of the donor, along with their donation amount. We can send you a tracking sheet to capture this information.

• If no – We have a list of items we will accept on our website under the tab “Wish List”. This list can change frequently so please take a look to see if there are items on that list that you/your child would like to share with your guests. While we appreciate all donations, please understand that due to restrictions as they relate to animal safety and disease control, we can only accept the items listed on our Wish List.

My child wants to donate all their old stuffed animals. Do you take them?

While we appreciate the thought behind this, unfortunately, we are unable to accept these items due to restrictions related to animal safety and disease control.

I have some medication from my animal and I was wondering if you can use it. What about syringes, or insulin? My pet was diabetic.

Thank you for thinking of us and I’m sorry to hear of the loss of your pet. We do sometimes have animals that need these things, but we cannot accept any opened items. You are best to take them to your vet’s office. They may be able to pass them along to another pet in need.

Do you take treats/bones from Bulk Barn (without packaging)?

Thank you for your interest in helping the animals. If you are interested in purchasing a specific treat for the animals, we have a list of items that we can give to the dogs. The specific treats we use are Rollover and/or freeze-dried liver treats. We need to be consistent with the treats we give the dogs so we know the ingredients which enables us to manage dietary restrictions. This ensures that we don’t cause any upset stomachs.

Do you take prescription food? I just bought it and spent a ton on it and my animal doesn't need it anymore.

Thank you for thinking of us, what type of food is it? Have you asked your vet if they can refund you your money for any unopened bags? Unfortunately, if it is open, we can’t accept it as it will deteriorate quickly. If it is unopened, we can accept it.

Do you take handmade treats, or frozen cookies for dogs?. Do you accept frozen items?

Thank you so much for thinking of the animals. Unfortunately we are not able to take handmade or frozen dog cookies. It is important that the dogs receive consistent food and treats. We need to know the ingredients to be able to manage dietary restrictions and to make sure that we don’t cause the dogs digestive problems. We also do not have the resources to be able to store them properly.

If you are interested in purchasing a specific treat for the animals, we have a list of items that we can give to the dogs. The specific treats we use in the shelter are Rollover and freeze-dried liver.

Do you take crates/cages and carriers?

Thank you for thinking of us. If they are in good condition, we do use some for the shelter animals. If we can’t use them, we do sell used cages, crates and tanks to raise money for the shelter and the animals in our care.