Welcome to the new OWRAssist
Author: D.Wilson, Managing Director of OWRAssist
Welcome to the redesigned Ontario Weimaraner Rescue & Assistance (OWRAssist) website.
Our dedicated volunteers have worked hard all summer and fall to bring you a more user-friendly and informative experience so you can make the right choices on your next family fur member.
OWRAssist is dedicated to rescuing, rehabilitating, and rehoming Weimaraners in need across Ontario and beyond.
Ready to make a difference? Volunteer with us, make a donation, learn more about the Weimaraner breed, or open your home to foster or adopt one of our wonderful rescues.
Every Weimaraner we rescue has a unique story-some arrive scared, others full of hope-and with your support, we can give each one the loving home they deserve. Speaking of unique stories, let us share how we rescued our very first Weimaraner and how our program, OWRAssist, began.
Although our official founding date is 2010, OWRAssist began in May 2007 under its original name, “Daisy’s Rescue.” Our founding director Deb was fostering a Weimaraner named Daisy for another rescue.
Daisy had been rescued from a farm near Erin, Ontario. She had received little veterinary care, so an appointment was made to have her spayed and to complete all necessary testing and vaccinations.
Well, what a surprise when Dr Todd announced that Daisy could not be ethically spayed, she would be having puppies in a couple weeks. WHAT? Puppies! Since Daisy was a young mom-to-be, we expected her to have a small litter. Dr Todd said she was guessing 4 to 6 pups.
We set up a whelping pen soon after Dr. Todd’s announcement, although she wasn’t sure of the exact due date-he estimated around May 20th. However, on the late evening and into the early morning of May 25th, Daisy began pacing, signalling that labor was starting.
Unfortunately, Deb had to be out of town for business, so a call was made to Heather to come and assist with the whelping. Without hesitation, “Doula Heather” arrives in her pajamas at 5:30am excited to help Daisy deliver her babies.
Not sure how the whelping would go, Heather stayed alert. She was ready to pack up Daisy and head for the vet if anything seemed wrong. As Heather settled in with Daisy, an unexpected knock interrupted the tense morning.
Daisy leapt out of the whelping pen, ready to confront the intruder—only to find it was just construction workers. They explained that the driveway would be blocked for two to three hours due to construction work.
Heather quickly explained “My dog is having puppies right now—I might need to leave at a moment’s notice.” As Daisy stood nervously on the stairs, Heather and the construction worker suddenly noticed a tiny puppy lying beside Daisy’s feet—Daisy had given birth right there on the stairs.
Heather grabbed Daisy and the puppy from the stairs and brought them back to the whelping box. We named the first pup Alien. Alien was all black with white feet with a weim shaped head but not looking entirely like a purebred Weimaraner. A few minutes later, another all-black puppy arrived. By the end of the delivery, there were 9 black puppies and 3 black and tan puppies. (see some of Daisy's pups below: Cricket, Winston, and Mya)
It appeared that Daisy had a couple of suitors. Deb, an experienced foster, was used to surprises but wasn’t expecting this outcome. Even her own Weimaraner, Evee, (picture of Evee below) usually playful, was clearly overwhelmed by the newcomers.
Daisy too was less than thrilled with the amount of work these twelve puppies required. She tried to escape the whelping pen at every opportunity, eager for a break from motherhood.
Deb made the decision to start supplemental feeding of the pups using a specially formulated puppy milk replacer and a bottle to ensure each puppy received adequate nutrition. Anyone that has had a litter knows this is a big job. Feeding 12 pups every 2 hours, day and night, so not much sleep for a few weeks to get the litter off to a healthy start. Though exhausting, seeing the pups’ eyes open for the first time and watching them grow stronger each day made every sleepless night worthwhile for Deb and Heather.
Deb now knew she had a problem on her hands, since the litter was not purebred Weimaraners the current rescue that she was fostering for could not take the mixed breeds into their care to rehome them. The rescue could only receive purebred Weimaraners into their rescue.
Heather and Deb worked with other Weimaraner owners to find foster/furever homes for the puppies. They created a Facebook dedicated to Daisy and her pups. It was a success, and all the pups found great homes and lived long, fun and loving lives with their new owners.
Now what’s next? After recognizing a growing need for Weimaraners and Weimaraner mixed breeds rescue efforts in Ontario, Deb, Heather, and Nancy began researching the paperwork required to become a registered charity. And so, after 2 years of researching and submitting paperwork their charity status was accepted on Feb 10th, 2010. They now became Ontario Weimaraner Rescue & Assistance (OWRAssist).
At first, they were just looking after Weimaraners in need in Ontario, but soon after, news of a puppy mill bust in Quebec reached them, involving 19 “weimish looking” dogs and prompting them to expand their network. They were also overwhelmed by the sudden need on the East Coast and British Columbia but inspired by the outpouring of support from new volunteers to help OWRAssist find homes for all the rescues.
As the need for Weim rescues increased, they discovered some interesting Weimaraner mixes. Several of the first mixes came from a backyard breeder who crossed Great Danes and Weimaraners. One of these was Hank the tank, who weighed in at 135 pounds. Then there was a Vizsla crossed Weimaraner in Winnipeg that needed a home. We also rescued a Lab crossed Weimaraner in Halifax, and our unique mixes continued to grow.
In 2012 a puppy mill was breeding Labradors with Weimaraners to create what was being called, “Georgian Bay Sporting Dogs.” Working with the Humane Society and another rescue, we managed to find homes for all twenty-nine dogs and closed the puppy mill. The rescues were involved in coordinating transportation, medical care, and foster placements for each dog. It was a community effort that required quick action and teamwork from all the organizations involved.
So, although our name is still Ontario Weimaraner Rescue and Assistance (OWRAssist), reflecting our origins, we now have foster and furever homes in almost every province and territory across Canada.
We also have a great team of volunteers and dedicated board members. Many of our board members have served several terms, and even after they leave the board, they continue to volunteer in other ways to help OWRAssist rescues.
For example, board members with backgrounds in finance have helped streamline our budgeting process, while those with marketing, special events and online media expertise have expanded our outreach efforts. While our dedicated people are the backbone of OWRAssist, it is the dogs themselves who truly inspire our mission every day. So, without further ado, we would like to introduce you to a few of our Furry Stars.
These dogs played a key role in helping OWRAssist become what it is today, inspiring our team to provide the perfect care for every rescued Weimaraner that comes into our dedicated loving foster homes.
Daisy is one such star, she was our first rescued Weimaraner and the ambassador for OWRAssist. Daisy’s temperament was just the best, especially for a dog with little or no training. Daisy lived a great life with her adopted family until August of 2017 when she travelled to Rainbow’s Bridge.
Anya is another one of our Furry Stars. Anya came to us as a senior surrender with behavioural adjustment requirements. Anya has lived with her foster Mom Christy for several years. When Anya arrived at OWRAssist she had aggressive behaviour issues and was not considered to be adoptable.
OWRAssist sent Anya off to I Train K9s for a 30-day training boot camp. During her time at I TrainK9s, Anya learned to manage her reactiveness around other dogs and became more comfortable with visitors in her foster home. Anya and her foster mom Christy continue to work daily on her training. Anya continues to live happily with her foster Christy and receives regular veterinary care for her age-related conditions and is no longer considered a dog with behavioural issues.
Freyja is another senior that just needed a quiet home to rest her senior bones. She enjoys gentle walks in the garden and enjoys cuddling with her foster family who also have three other pets who are like siblings to her.
Senior dogs often have special needs, such as specific dietary requirements or mobility challenges, which require attentive care and support. Our foster families who welcome these special dogs into their loving homes are rewarded with a permanent family member, while OWRAssist covers all additional medical expenses. This creates a win-win situation for everyone involved.
Contact us for more info or if you would like to make a donation to Anya or Freyja please use the emails below:
Support Freyja Chase is a playful and affectionate Weimaraner who bravely manages his epilepsy with our help. At OWRAssist, we are committed to supporting dogs like Chase so they can enjoy happy, healthy lives with a loving foster family.
Chase came into rescue when his previous family felt that they could not adequately cover the cost of the testing and medication that he would require. Chase has proven to be our most costly dog yet. OWRAssist has spent over 15k to ensure that Chase can have the best life possible. Is it worth it? Absolutely!
We are committed to providing the best possible lives for all our rescues. That’s why we are always fundraising, Chase’s medical care costs approximately $450.00 per month.
We are seeking 10 caring individuals to pledged $50 per month to support Chase’s medical needs. Will you become one of Chase’s monthly sponsors? What do you get out of it? Well, you will be helping Chase live a fulfilling life. As a Team Chase crew member, you’ll receive regular updates from Chase’s foster caregiver and OWRAssist about his progress and what shenanigans he has been up to. Plus, you’ll get a special photo of Chase and exclusive Team Chase swag to celebrate your support! Join us and help make a difference in Chase’s journey—your support means the world to him!
Buddy and Casper are part of our “special needs” fosters. Their foster families are working through various challenges to ensure these pets can have happy and fulfilling lives. Thanks to the patience and love of their foster families, these pets are making remarkable progress and bringing joy to everyone around them. You will hear more about this trio of boys in up-and-coming blogs or in our Wagging Tales Weimaraner stories. Stay Tuned!
A special needs dog is one that requires extra care due to physical, medical, or behavioral limitations. These needs can range from dietary, mobility issues and blindness to anxiety or chronic illnesses. While they may require more attention, special needs dogs can still live fulfilling lives and make wonderful companions. If you feel you could take on a special needs dog, please contact us for more information on how you can help.
Support Special Needs Weimaraners:
Phone: 905.937.7131
Email: info@ontarioweimaranerrescue.com
Fostering at OWRAssist
Our Lifetime foster homes are very special because they offer a permanent, nurturing environment where our Weimaraners receive personalized attention and care for the rest of their lives.
We offer short-term, long-term, transitional and emergency fostering options to fit different lifestyles. All you need to do is love and have patience for our foster weims.
If you’re interested in making a difference without a long-term commitment, consider becoming a foster. Reach out to us today to learn how you can help!
Phone: 905.937.7131
Email: info@ontarioweimaranerrescue.com
Life Time Fosters (LTFs)
Life Time Fosters are dogs who, due to age, medical needs, or other circumstances, remain in our care for the rest of their lives rather than being adopted out.
This care provides permanent support in loving foster homes, ensuring that these individuals can live their best lives for the rest of their days.
Our Life Time Fosters receive regular veterinary care, food, and emotional support provided by our organization. We carefully match each dog with a loving foster family to ensure their individual needs are met and they feel safe, happy, and loved. If you feel like you would be interested in becoming a Life Time Foster, please contact us for more information.
Phone: 905.937.7131
Email: info@ontarioweimaranerrescue.com
The resilience, loyalty, and unique (quirky) personalities of our Weimaraner rescues remind us daily why our work matters.
OWRAssist has found furever homes for hundreds of Weims in the past 15 years, helping each dog find a loving family and a new beginning. Some of our furever families are on their second round of adopting rescued Weimaraners.
DONATIONS to OWRAssist is a simple way to contribute. We are always looking for ways to make donating fun. Our monthly raffle baskets usually include dog related goodies, gift cards, food baskets and recently we have our CASH 50/50 draws. Join our next raffle or 50/50 draw to support our cause and win exciting prizes! Every donation helps us provide care and support for dogs in need.
To make a donation online, or contact us directly for more details.
Phone: 905.937.7131
Email: info@ontarioweimaranerrescue.comWe invite you to choose from several donation platforms below, so you can support us in the way that works best for you.
If your workplace participates in Benevity, you can set up a payroll deduction and your donation will be sent to us automatically each month.
please contact us for more information.
Phone: 905.937.7131
Email: info@ontarioweimaranerrescue.com
It allows you to make a direct donation and receive a tax receipt from them. However, they retain a small percentage of your donation to cover their operational costs.
Phone: 905.937.7131
Email: info@ontarioweimaranerrescue.com
It allows you to donate directly and provides you with a tax receipt. Please note that they deduct a percentage from your donation to cover their operating costs. Please contact us for more information.
Phone: 905.937.7131
Email: info@ontarioweimaranerrescue.com
You can also support our cause by donating through our PayPal Giving Fund page. Please contact us for more information.
Phone: 905.937.7131
Email: info@ontarioweimaranerrescue.com
The fastest and easiest way to donate is by e-transfer to donations@ontarioweimaranerrescue.com . If you prefer another method, please contact us for more options.
Phone: 905.937.7131
Email: info@ontarioweimaranerrescue.com
Life Time Fosters Donation
To support a specific Life Time Fosters (LTFs)--a volunteer who provides long-term care for our dogs--send your donation directly to one of the following email addresses. Please include the foster dog's name in the message / subject header or note section.
You can donate directly to support each of our Long-Term Fosters (LTFs). Please use the following email addresses for e-transfer donations, click on their names below:
Support Anya 
Support Buddy
Support Freyja Your support makes a difference! Thank you from OWRAssist. Other Related Donations
If you are looking to donate to help other dogs receive medical care and find loving homes, please use: donations@ontarioweimaranerrescue.com
Your support makes a difference! Thank you from OWRAssist.
Be a Sponsor
We have several companies that have sponsor programs including:
You can designate to OWRAssist.
Your support makes a difference! Thank you from OWRAssist.Thank you from all of us at OWRAssist in taking the time to get to know us. Please feel free to contact us for more information or to help our Weimaraner rescues today!
Deb Wilson with Daisy