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Ringworm outbreak a defining moment for OMHS continued from p.5 animal care." Dushko admits the OMHS is unusual as it has an open intake policy, which means all lost and stray animals are taken in. The OMHS has animal control contracts for both Oakville and Milton, which allows the shelter to keep the critters it rescues for the legally prescribed period of time -- and then make it part of the shelter family after that. "That's what makes us a bit different," said Dushko. "We're a low euthanasia shelter at that point, so once they come into our care and they've done their time under the bylaw, they are assessed for adoptability and we can do any work that needs to be done with behaviour or medical care. Then they're part of our family until they find their forever family. And that's really unusual (for a shelter). "When people come in, they are always shocked by how many animals we have and care for." 13 | Wednesday, March 20, 2013 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com A stalwart in the community In its 76 years, OMHS has become a stalwart to the animals it protects and the Oakville and Milton communities. It has one of the highest return-to-owner rates for dogs and cats -- 92 per cent of lost dogs that come into its care are returned to their owners, while that rate is 17 per cent for cats; most shelters average around three-five per cent, said Dushko. The shelter currently has 37 registered foster families that take in some animals until they are adopted by what Dushko coins as their "forever families." In 2011, OMHS helped adopt out 670 cats, 125 dogs and 72 small animals, such as rabbits, guinea pigs, and birds, among others. "We've definitely seen an increase in adoption rates, and I think that's partly due to the support from the media," said Dushko. "Our profile has risen hugely in the last year and a half, and I think more people are just aware we're a great place to come to find a pet for your family." The ringworm outbreak While OMHS has changed and grown along with its communities and rising numbers, Dushko said it was the ringworm outbreak, which shut it down for approximately four months, that became a defining moment. "It had us look at all our procedures and protocols, and we had an opportunity, while we were closed, to review everything we were doing and how we would want to do it differently when we re-opened," she said. Now, when the OMHS takes in stray animals, they are kept in a trailer adjacent to the shelter until they are assessed. If they exhibit a contagious condition, they are treated in another trailer, custom-made for the OMHS, which has three areas with separate air exchanges to prevent a spread of the condition. Ringworm, a contagious fungal infection, contaminated the shelter's cat population and the OMHS was forced to close its doors to the public on Sept. 16, 2011 -- it would reopen on Jan. 21, 2012. "Initially, there weren't a lot of cats affected but what we had to do was test every animal and surface in the facility and retest every few weeks until we got three negative results. So you're constantly testing, and disinfecting and Above, Oakville & Milton Humane Society Veterinary Technician Christine Crocker treats a kitten infected with ringworm. A ringworm outbreak affected the local shelter in September 2011 and forced it to close its doors to the public for four months. At left, Former OMHS dog-trainer Genevieve Reisinger makes sure Bailey gets plenty of exercise and lots of mental and physical stimulation while the shelter was closed. Reisinger has since moved on to pursue her masters degree in dog behaviour. photos courtesy of Oakville & Milton Humane Society see Mea on p.14