99 Years Of Caring For Our Fur Kids & Year 1 With A New ED At The Windsor/Essex County Humane Society
The Windsor/Essex County Humane Society (WECHS) located at 1375 Provincial Road in Windsor, is a registered not-for-profit charity devoted to animal welfare — including rescuing, rehabilitating, and providing humane education.
WECHS has service contracts for animal control with the City of Windsor and the Town of Amherstburg. But, it’s very important to note, they rely on donations from the public.
In mid-November 2024 Lynnette Bain was hired at WECHS as their Executive Director overseeing a team of approximately 55 full-time and part-time employees, along with community volunteers and animal fosters. Bain is a graduate of the University of Windsor with an Honours Bachelor of Commerce in finance and economics, and a Master’s Certificate in Municipal Leadership from the Schulich School of Business.
Prior to joining the WECHS, she was Vice-President of Destination Development, for 13 years, with Tourism Windsor Essex County Pelee Island (TWEPI).
Bain and her husband of 25 years — along with their 23 year-old son who trains horses and is an announcer at two racetracks — have a four-legged family of eight horses, three dogs, and a cat named pumpkin. It’s obvious she is a perfect match to head up the WECHS!
When asked why she joined the local humane society, Bain explains: “An employment recruiter contacted me regarding an executive director position at WECHS. I have always loved animals and I wanted to be involved in service-related work in the community, but I did not want to move away from this area. And the requirements of the position very much align with the working skill sets like organizing and promoting that I developed during my time with TWEPI.”
She adds: “I was also aware of the great work done by WECHS and the amazing foundation set by my predecessors and I wanted to honour the footsteps of those who walked before me, and to build on them today and into the future.”
Bain started her new position with a “baptism of fire” as the city was hit in December 2024 with a canine parvovirus outbreak. There were 18 dog deaths with more than 50 suspected cases of the virus in December 2024 and January 2025. “I felt like the fire hose had been turned on us,” Bain recounts. She led the WECHS in working with local veterinarians and animal welfare organizations. Eventually, medical care and vaccinations reduced the outbreak.
The WECHS has its own veterinary clinic accredited by the College of Veterinarians of Ontario. They offer services to the public, but primarily focus on spaying and neutering — up to 7,500 per year.
However, other services such as vaccines, microchips, and parasite treatments are offered at the time of surgery or on specific wellness service days.
“We are now in ‘kitten season’ (April, May and June) and can expect to shelter 1,000 new kittens,” Bain points out. “That’s a priority, making sure that we have the capacity and the tools to be able to deliver the services that we need to deliver. Over 15,000 animals pass through our doors between the clinic and the shelter annually.”
One of the important programs of the WECHS is fostering.
As described on their website: “Our foster volunteers are an important part of our volunteer team. Foster volunteers temporarily care for animals in their home until they can be available for adoption or find rescue through the Humane Society. Foster animals are often too young to go into adoption, or require time to heal after a surgery, or need a little extra work on behaviour and socialization. We provide all the supplies, food, litter, leashes, and medical care — you provide the space and love.”
WECHS seeks ways to reach the public raise awareness of their available services. They are participating in the annual Woofa~Roo Pet Fest on May 31 & June 1 at the Libro Credit Union Centre, 3295 Meloche Road in Amherstburg.
“Woofa~Roo Pet Fest and the work of its Director Lorene Clayton, is invaluable in gathering thousands of pets and their owners for two days of socialization, education, and competitive events, along with many vendors and animal welfare organizations,” comments Bain about the importance of this event. “The WECHS participates to help educate people on their many services in the community.”
Needing donations from the public, the WECHS presents two annual fundraising events.
The first for this year has already taken place on April 5 and was The Wizard of Paws gala at the Caboto Club. The thematic inference from The Wizard of Oz was chosen since there’s “no place like home” for the pets in their care!
The second and largest annual fundraiser — Strays on Streetcorners —happens June 19 to 21. WECHS volunteers (more are needed) hit the streets of Windsor Essex to collect donations from the public. Watch for the volunteers at major intersections around the city and county, so have your change ready!
And, finally from May 1 to May 31, WECHS presents the Kitty Kash 50/50 Lottery.
For more information about WECHS, including all services, how to volunteer, foster, adopt and donate, plus upcoming event details, visit their website.
Biz X magazine congratulates Bain on her appointment, and thanks her and all the WECHS staff and volunteers for their vitally important work as they head towards their 100th anniversary in 2026.
