animal talk spring 2008_web

Canadian Publications Agreement Number 40659555Canadian Publications Agreement Number 40659555

Reaching OutGrand Opening of the

Victoria Park Adoption Centre

Bill 50: FlawedRaise your voice for the animals Page 8

The Toronto Humane Society11 River St., Toronto ON, M5A 4C2

Tel: 416.392.2273 Fax: 416.392.9978

email: [email protected]

website: www.torontohumanesociety.com

Canadian Charitable Registration Number 11925 9513 RR0001

Society OfficersTim Trow, President

Bob Hambley, Secretary-Treasurer

Joan Milne, Vice-President

Sandi Hudson, Vice-President

Carol Lupovich, Vice-President

Board of DirectorsStephen Dooley Carol Lupovich

Bob Hambley Patricia McIlhone

Sandi Hudson Joan Milne

Pam Inglis Laurie Overton

Gino Innamorato Delores Qasim

Alan Johnson Tim Trow

Valerie Jones Bud Walters

Animaltalk is printed on recycled paper and

distributed free of charge to approximately

50,000 Society donors and members.

ISSN 1192-4861

Mission Statement: To promote the humane care and protection of all animals and to prevent cruelty and suffering

Summer 2008 IssueCover StoriesMaking History 24Bill 50: Flawed 8

FeaturesSaving Cyrus; Saving Tre 3New Homes

Gimme Shelter 4Sweet and Low 5

Gifts 14Rescue 15Memberships 18

ShelterKitten Nursery 6Fields of Green 20Small Domestics and Birds 30Wildlife 33

MarginaliaHealth 32Safety Rating 16Marlies Put “Fun” in Fundraising 17Emergency Response, 17Amazing Result

ColumnsFighting Like Cats and Dogs - 9Peter Worthington

It’s a Dogs Life and Death - 22Ken Gallinger

Gifted - 34Kelly

Summer 2008AnimaltalkSummer 2008Animaltalk2

“It’s your e-mails and support that did it. Thank you.” - Tre Smith

HE’S BACK!!!Agent Smith Reinstated, Dec 8, 2007.

Summer 2008Animaltalk

Summer 2008Animaltalk 3

Saving Cyrus; Saving TreCyrus has made a remarkable recovery and lives

with a family who love him. As for Tre...


Anne, a volunteer dog

walker with the THS since

April 2005, created a bit of a family

reunion when she visited the

shelter with a pair of hard-to-adopt

dogs she has recently given a home

to. Niki, a big, bold, beautiful 13-

year-old Rottweiler/Shepherd cross

who found refuge at the THS after

her owner fell ill, has been with

Anne since Easter, 2008. Joey, a

Boston Terrier, has shared Anne’s

home since September, 2007. This

odd couple joins the ranks of four

other senior dogs who have spent

their final days with Anne: Roger,

Toby, Bessie and Pippi. “I can’t

stand the thought of older, ill dogs

spending their last days without a

home, so I make room for them

in my home,” explains Anne.

While the previous dogs spent

their final months with Anne,

these two may become more

permanent fixtures. Joey, who

suffers from immune system

issues, is thriving after the THS

head vet Dr. Steve Sheridan

established the right balance of

medication and nutrition. And

Niki, while enduring the sort of

joint problems typical of large

breed dogs, is a friendly puppy at

heart and is in excellent health.

Plus the two of them get along

as if they’ve been together for

ever, which is a perfect recipe

for a long, healthy life.

New Homes

Gimme ShelterVolunteer dog walker takes home the tough cases

Anne, flanked by Niki (left) and Joey on a recent visit to the THS.



New Homes

Sweet Pea arrived on a Saturday

morning in April, left in a cardboard box

in the driveway of the THS. She was terrified,

undernourished, blind, deaf, and had a small

but obvious tumor in her belly. The folks in the

THS Clinic cared for her and then we took her

on Animal House Calls (A weekly program on

CP24, hosted by animal-lover Ann Rohmer)

to highlight her story. Next thing we knew

Annette and Hank were in the lobby of the

THS signing the adoption papers. “We saw

her on Animal House Calls,” says Annette,

“and I couldn’t stop crying: That sweet little

girl deserves to be pampered.”

Sweet and low

Annette and Frank with Sweet Pea.

Retrofits

These are shots of our new elevator, a gift from the Trillium Foundation. The foundation also enabled us to build a

first-ever washroom for visitors and staff with special needs.


Kitten Nursery

KITTENS!!!Every spring hundreds of volunteers mobilize to help us deal with themassive influx of pregnant cats and newborn kittens. By the time the littlefelines make it into our adoption program, they look healthy, happy andadorable. But take our word for it, the THS Kitten Nursery is one of thebusiest and most demanding places you’ll ever visit. By the time the mainkitten rush winds down, hundreds of kittens will have been born, weaned,medically treated and adopted by loving families. Phew!



Kitten Nursery


Dear Reader:

Bill 50, Provincial Animal

Welfare Act, 2008, must be

changed because section 6 is

likely to lead to our being

stripped of our name and

identity of 121 years.

Fortunately, section 6 is

superfluous to animal

protection, the real intent of

the Bill. Nothing will be

lost if it is gone from the Bill

and I urge you to ask your

MPP to vote to remove it.

The Legislature debated

Bill 50 off and on for about

a week in June and has

now prorogued for the

summer. The good news is

that our letters and emails

have led to Bill 50 being

referred to legislative

committee for review.

The upcoming committee

hearing is only a reprieve and

as of today section 6 remains.

But the hearing presents an

opportunity to avert the

injustice of having our name

and identity stripped from

us. I urge you to attend the

Committee hearing the week

of July 21-25.

People nowadays may not

realize that in 1887 The

Toronto Humane Society was

the first organization in

Canada to call itself “humane

society”. All others chose

“society for the protection of

animals”. (Animal Welfare

and Humane Values, Preece

& Chamberlain, 1995,

Wilfred Laurier University

Press, p. 35)

The reason for section 6 is

possible confusion, but for

121 years we have been

known as The Toronto

Humane Society

headquartered in Toronto as

distinct from the Ontario

Society for the Prevention of

Cruelty to Animals

headquartered in

Newmarket. In all that time,

we have never been

confused with one another.

But there will be certain

dislocation and loss of

opportunities for animals if

section 6 becomes law and

our name is stripped away.

Animals will be at risk

because people needing

shelter or hospitalization for

animals won’t know where

to find it. Our income,

dependent 100% on

donations, will plummet

because it comes from name

recognition and faith in our

strong history of community

service. If we must cut staff

and services we will become

smaller and weaker, less

influential, and less able to

speak out powerfully against

animal abuse.

Phone calls, letters and

emails – together with our

presence at Committee -- will

convince Minister Bartolucci

that section 6 ought to be

removed from Bill 50.

The Minister doesn’t

want to leave animals with

nowhere to go. But the risk

is real. If enacted, it

appears section 6 will force

The Toronto Humane

Society to choose between

either being stripped of our

name, or abandoning our

Victoria Park Adoption

Centre and stopping our

cruelty police, veterinarians,

adoption staff, rescue

officers, and volunteers

from serving Etobicoke,

North York or Scarborough.

It’s a Catch-22 the

animals can’t afford.

TIM TROW, President

Bill 50: FlawedRaise Your Voice for the Animals

Here’s how to speak for those whocannot speak for themselves. Please:• Email, (telephone or write) your MPP at Queen’s Park

and copy Premier McGuinty, Minister Bartolucci and TheToronto Humane Society. Our information line will giveyou your MPP’s email and telephone number.

Your MPP:[email protected]@[email protected]@torontohumanesociety.com

and/or

• Attend the Standing Committee on Justice Policy. Wewill post the exact date and time on the websitewhen it is announced.

For more InformationOn Bill 50 and MPP email addresses and telephonenumbers, please visit www.torontohumanesociety.comor call 416-392-2273 Ext. 2117 or 2765 or 2123



Bill 50: Flawed

Largely unnoticed in Bill

50 is the revision of

Section 10 in the old act that

says no society, association

or group "established after

the 30th day of May, 1955,"

shall function as an animal

welfare or cruelty prevention

organization" unless it is

ncorporated and becomes

affiliated" with what then

was the Ontario Humane

Society and is now renamed

the Ontario Society for the

Prevention of Cruelty to

Animals (OSPCA).

Thus, animal welfare

bodies in business prior to

1955, seemed to escape

domination by the OSPCA,

which has been rent

asunder in recent years by

controversy, weak finances,

mass resignations, internal

feuds, etc.

Section 10 in the new act

is revised to say only groups

affiliated with the OSPCA

shall "use the name

'humane society' ... or 'spca'

or the equivalent of any of

those names ... Giving the

OSPCA control over the

name "humane society"

(which it has dropped and

no longer uses) has caused

alarm among some, who

believe it gives the OSPCA

undue power to threaten

and intimidate.

The Toronto Humane

Society (THS) has feuded

over the years with the

OSPCA. Although it has

been in existence for 121

years and is a beloved

Toronto institution, the

THS feels vulnerable with

this amended clause.

"It means that if

we break our affiliation

with the OSPCA, or they

kick us out for any reason,

by this new law we could

lose our name -- a name

that has meant goodwill

and trust for generations,

and is essential to our

fundraising," says Tim

Trow, president of the THS.

"Donations from the

public and gifts are our

only source of funds. We

get no grants, no handouts

from government."

Last week Trow wrote to

Rick Bartolucci, Ontario's

minister of community

safety, urging the removal

of the inflammatory section

from Bill 50. He called it

"an insurmountable conflict

of interest because the

Ontario SPCA will become

both regulator and

fundraising competitor to

its 32 affiliates." He said

Bill 50 will "upon

enactment, strip the names

and identities of other

charities amongst the 235

Ontario animal protection

charities registered with the

Canadian Revenue Agency."

The THS depends on the

OSPCA for inspectors in

animal abuse cases. Other

than the police, they are the

only ones licensed to carry

out investigations and lay

charges. There's rarely

disagreement when abuses

are found. But Trow accuses

the OSPCA leadership of

hiring private detectives to

check up on the THS,

including surreptitious

interviews of staff.

Largely unnoticed in Bill

50 is the revision of Section

10 in the old act that says

no society, association or

group "established after the

30th day of May, 1955,"

shall function as an animal

welfare or cruelty

prevention organization

"unless it is incorporated

and becomes affiliated"

with what then was the

Ontario Humane Society

and is now renamed the

Ontario Society for the

Prevention of Cruelty to

Animals (OSPCA).

Thus, animal welfare

bodies in business prior to

1955, seemed to escape

domination by the OSPCA,

which has been rent

asunder in recent years by

controversy, weak finances,

mass resignations, internal

feuds, etc.

Section 10 in the new act

is revised to say only groups

affiliated with the OSPCA

shall "use the name

'humane society' ... or 'spca'

or the equivalent of any of

those names ..."

Giving the OSPCA

control over the name

"humane society" (which it

has dropped and no longer

uses) has caused alarm

among some, who believe it

gives the OSPCA undue

Fighting like cats and dogsAnimal welfare groups at odds over who

may use “Humane Society”

PETER WORTHINGTON


Bill 50: Flawed

power to threaten and

intimidate, says Trow.

"Put bluntly, our name is

our greatest asset. If we had to

change our name after 121

years, it would be devastating.

"Last year we had an

enviable record for saving

animals - 75% of our dogs

and cats were adopted; our

euthanasia rate was 6 %.

The OSPCA won't tell how

many it adopts and how

many it kills." (The

euthanasia rate at the

Toronto Animal Services --

the pound, in other words -

- is roughly 50%, a far cry

from the THS' s 6%).

Those who think the

OSPCA would never move

against the THS might

consider what's happening

in Burlington. In 1974

Animal Aid was formed

after the Burlington

Humane Society (affiliated

with what is now the

OSPCA) quit in 1970 over a

dispute with the city's

animal shelter program to

sell animals for research.

Animal Aid took over

the role, and the name, of

humane society and ever

since has functioned as

such. In 1999, the Hamilton

SPCA decided to include

Burlington, to form a joint

SPCA, even though it has

no shelter in Burlington.

Local people still depend

on the present BHS.

The Hamilton-Burlington

SPCA has threatened to sue

the BHS, but until the new

OSPCA Act, there was

nothing to prevent

Burlington using the

"humane society" name.

Jolene Regan, president

of the all-volunteer BHS,

says the membership

approved, and "Burlington

Humane Society" became

their legal name, filed with

Industry Canada and

incorporated in 2006.

"We have good

working relations with the

city and with the city's

animal control shelter," says

Regan. "Hamilton's interest

in Burlington is because

we're a relatively affluent

community for fundraising."

Like Burlington, the

Mississauga Humane Society

is volunteer-based, and

unaffiliated with the OSPCA,

which has a reputation of

being dogmatic and

dysfunctional, a view shared

by the THS leadership.

Regan is concerned the

Hamilton SPCA has a "zero-

kill" policy -- it will not

put down any animal. This

means it will not accept

most sick or injured animals

but directs them to the city's

Animal Control Services,

which shares the same

building with the HSPCA.

It's cruel to keep some

animals alive, says Regan.

"You try to help

them all, but

some can't be

saved."

In other

words,

the HSPCA

accepts

healthy

animals for

adoption,

while sick or

unwanted

animals go to Animal

Control for execution.

Like the THS, Regan

worries that the wording on

the new SPCA Act gives the

OSPCA a weapon to

prevent the use of the name

"humane society."

A spokesman for

Bartolucci says the

controversial wording in

Bill 50 is mere

"modernizing of the

language and not intended

to change the existing

situation." The intent is to

have better control over

cruelty and abuse of

animals, and not to prevent

people caring for animals.

He didn't think banning

organizations from using

the word "humane society"

unless they were affiliated

with the OSPCA, posed a

danger to, say, the

Mississauga and Burlington

humane societies, which are

independent (as are the

Marathon, Collingwood

and Picton humane

societies). Or Toronto,

which is affiliated but

which the OSPCA envies

and resents.

If the ministry believes

this, it doesn't understand

the issue.

To avoid a snakepit of

future controversy, before

the next reading of Bill 50,

the words "humane society"

should be removed from

the sentence that says the

OSPCA has sole disposition

on who can use that name.

It's ludicrous, when one

thinks about it. Both the

OSPCA and Hamilton have

abandoned the "humane

society" identification for

themselves, but want to

prevent any except those

affiliated with them from

using it.

Bartolucci is to be

commended for updating

the act, but he should

familiarize himself with the

OSPCA's turmoiled history,

and that in the past it has

proved unreliable in dealing

judiciously with power.

Bill 50: Flawed

Peter Kormos NDP Justice Critic:

“Why would this Government want

to effectively shut down The

Toronto Humane Society with its

century-plus history of looking out

for the welfare of animals?” “New

Democrats are being very clear that

they will not support section 6.

We stand with Tim Trow, The

Toronto Humane Society, and other humane societies

that are not associated with OSPCA.” - Hansard, May 6, 2008

The NDP’s Cheri DiNovo::

“It means that a venerable institution

of over 100 years like The Toronto

Humane Society would not be able

to use the word “humane” anymore,

as well as 235 other charities that

look after and protect our animals. I

don’t understand why this section

[section 6] is even in this bill. What

is the purpose of it? It needs to be stricken from the Bill, and

I’d like the Committee to look at that”. - Hansard, May 5, 2008

Monte Kwinter (Lib. MPP York Centre, former Minister

of Community Safety and Correctional Services):

"...the Toronto Humane Society

does its welfare-and does it very

well. I have nothing but praise for

them. They do a wonderful job

and are a wonderful facility..."

- Hansard, May 12, 2008

Comments from Queen’s ParkBill 50 went into debate on May 5, and cleared second reading on

May 27. Here are some selected quotes from a heated debate:

Online Donations Made Easy!Making an online donation

has never been easier, please visitwww.torontohumanesociety.com

The Progressive Conservatives’ Garfield Dunlop:

“Another major flaw in this Bill is the

inclusion of section 6. Humane

societies across Ontario believe that, if

enacted, - section 6 will strip them of

their names. As The Toronto Humane

Society says and that’s an institution

that’s over 120 years old – ‘It’s like

losing your name; it’s like losing your

identity’. Minister, will you stand today in this House and

commit to either removing or making major amendments to

section 6 of Bill 50?” - Hansard, May 7, 2008


Bill 50: Flawed

Dedicated to the

care and protection

of all animals.

A charitable

organization solely

funded by kind donors

and volunteers.

April 29, 2008

VIA FAX

The Hon. Rick Bartolucci Minister of Community Safety & Correctional Services Government of Ontario Queen’s Park, 25 Grosvenor Street, 18th Floor Toronto, Ontario M7A 1Y6

Lost & Found

Dear Minister Bartolucci: Adoption

Foster Re: An Open Letter to Ontarians Concerning

Kitten Nursery Bill 50 – Provincial Animal Welfare Act, 2008 Micro-chipping

We write to ask you to remove section 6 from Bill 50. Section 6 provides that community-built shelters that either don’t want to be affiliates of the Ontario SPCA, or shelters that the Ontario SPCA itself does not want as affiliates, will be stripped automatically of their names by the Legislature.

Spay/Neuter

Wildlife Rehabilitation

Cruelty Investigation

Humane Education Historically in Ontario, the many voices of the Province’s animal welfare movement have been its strength. If the result of Bill 50 is but one voice, Bill 50 will have stifled debate and diversity and will have weakened what has been built up in communities over generations.

Food Bank

Veterinary Care

Feral Cat Program

Mind Your Manners- Bill 50’s role for the Ontario SPCA appears to be one of insurmountable conflict of interest because the Ontario SPCA will become both regulator and fundraising competitor to its 32 affiliates.

Canine Program

In addition, Ontario’s animal welfare movement is wider than the Ontario SPCA or its affiliates. Bill 50 will instantly, upon enactment, strip the names and identities of other charities amongst the 235 Ontario animal protection charities registered with the Canada Revenue Agency.

Bill 50 provides for no decision-making process and no appeal to the courts. It provides no explanation as to why it is necessary for the Legislature to take away the identities of any charities.

Sanctions against holding out or infringing a corporate name already exist in Ontario law. In the case of The Toronto Humane Society, there can be no confusion because there is no similarity between “The Toronto Humane Society” and the “Ontario SPCA”.

11 River Street | Toronto, Ontario | M5A 4C2 | 416.392.2273 | Fax: 416.392.9978 w w w . t o r o n t o h u m a n e s o c i e t y . c o m

11 River Street | Toronto, Ontario | M5A 4C2 | 416.392.2273 | Fax: 416.392.9978 w w w . t o r o n t o h u m a n e s o c i e t y . c o m

Dedicated to the

care and protection

of all animals.

A charitable

organization solely

funded by kind donors

and volunteers.

The Toronto Humane Society is a well-known Ontario landmark, a hospital and a shelter, caring for both wild and domestic animals. We employ 150 care-givers, and, at any time, 500 volunteers provide recuperative or palliative care as foster parents, feed orphan kittens in the nursery, groom cats, or walk dogs.

We serve Province-wide, one-third of our clients coming to us from beyond our Torontoarea.

The Toronto Humane Society has grown and prospered since 1887 because of the generous support of financial contributors and members. We do not receive, and never have received, government funding or funding from the Ontario SPCA.

Lost & Found

Our name is how we have been identified for 121 years. It has been entrusted to us bysuccessive Provincial Governments andit represents the goodwill and trust of generations.

Adoption

Foster

Kitten Nursery

Our name is how we speak to supporters and donors, and it is how they identify us in their wills or in other giving. It is how volunteers and animal care-givers find us and it is how clients access our services - rescuing animals, re-uniting lost animals, saving injured wildlife, providing veterinary care, extending shelter and providing homes.

Micro-chipping

Spay/Neuter

Wildlife Rehabilitation

Cruelty Investigation Take away our name and identity and you jeopardize our ability to provide essential animal care to citizens when they are desperate and in need.

Humane Education

Food Bank

Veterinary Care Please remove section 6 from Bill 50. Feral Cat Program

Thank you. Mind Your Manners- Canine Program

Yours truly,

Tim Trow President

TT/ct

cc Office of the Integrity Commissioner – Lobbyist Reg. #OL0061-19990406122620



Bill 50: Flawed


On June 1, 2008, Julie Borenstein hosted a walk-a-thon

for the THS, pledging all proceeds to the Society.

Recently she visited the shelter to pass along nearly $2,000.

Based on the success of her inaugural event, Borenstein is

already planning how to make Walk a Dog’s Way, 2009

even more fruitful.

Thanks Julie!

Gifts

Paws for the CauseVolunteer walk-a-thonmajor success

It was community week over at the Royal Bank of Canada.

From June 8 through June 14, the folks at RBC are

finding ways to give back. And our neighbours in the Van

Horne plaza branch, in the same mall as our new North

York Adoption Center, decided to make the THS its charity

of choice during a fun day fundraiser on Thursday, June 12.

There was face painting, musical games, food sales, water

balloon fights and so much more. And all the proceeds

from the day go to the THS.

Thank You, neighbour!

RBC Fun DayWe’ve made new friends



Rescue

Rescue!A look at some of the calls for help answered

by The Toronto Humane Society annually

A neighbours cell phone call alerted agent Smith to a dog stuck in a window.

Agent Urlea and cats she rescued after being locked 3 days in an

apartment with no food or water.


Marginalia

THS earns major safety rating

In late February we underwent a major safety audit. We passed with flying colours. Because we know THS supporters

take safety as seriously as we do, we wanted to share the results.



Marginalia

Marlies put the “fun” in fundraiser

In a fun kind of fundraiser, the Toronto Marlies (the Leaf’s farm club) invited us to the Ricoh Centre on March 30

to share in the excitement (and cash). Our fundraisers fanned out around the building, generating several

hundred dollars in donations. And our Lead Investigator, Agent Tre Smith, did a Q&A which was beamed up onto

the scoreboard. Fun? Wow! Some days work just doesn’t feel like work at all.

Emergency Response, Amazing Result

In late March we received an emergency call to a high-rise apartment fire. While no

people were injured in the blaze, an adult cat perished in the smoke. But before

she died, she seems to have hustled her four kittens off to the back of a bedroom

closet, where we located them. Rushed to the THS emergency room, they were

immediately placed in an oxygen chamber. Thankfully, all four kittens survived,

unscathed. Pictured are agent Tre Smith and agent Manuela Urlea.

Marlies Day.


When you finish reading this issue of Animaltalk, will you please help the

animals one more time by filling out the membership form stapled here.

You may not be a member even though you are a donor. Under Society by-laws,

donors are not automatically members. Even though you may have sent in

financial support or even if you send in a cheque regularly, unless you have a

membership card you are not a member. (If you already have a membership card,

please ignore this request. You can be assured that your membership is in full

Membership

Join Up as a MemberSpecial Request from the Board of Directors

Membership Protocol

The primary reason for signing up as a member is that the animals need you.

They need the strength of numbers when The Toronto Humane Society speaks

up for the animals. We have spoken up against the seal hunt, the killing of

monkeys by the federal government in their shadowy testing lab in Winnipeg,

the Calgary Stampede, the whipping and other abuse of tourist carriage horses,

and the puny veterinary budget and shameful killing of animals in Toronto

municipal pounds.

Why Be a Member

The duties and responsibilities of members are both simple and vital.

Members need to read Animaltalk and visit the website from time to time to

keep informed of Society affairs. They need to weigh what is being achieved

and be prepared to question the Board of Directors to keep it on its toes.

Once a year, members need to step forward to elect the Board of Directors,

Duties and Responsibilities of Members



force and effect until the membership secretary writes to you to tell you it is time

for its renewal.)

Animaltalk is now on-line at www.torontohumanesociety.com For those who

keep in touch by reading Animaltalk on the website, you can alternatively sign up

to be a member there.

For information on membership, please feel free to call the membership secretary

at 416 392 2273, ext. 2117 at any time.

The other reason to become a member is to support other volunteers.

Many other charities can do their job with professional and paid staff

alone. But because there are so many animals needing care at the Society,

volunteers are part of the animals’ care network. We depend on foster

parents, dog walkers and kitten bottle feeders at the shelter every day of the

week. These good people need the strength of a broad community

membership behind them.

appoint auditors and approve the financial statements at the Annual

General Meeting.

Your Board of Directors respectfully asks you to assume the duties and

responsibilities of membership. Please become part of a vibrant Society

electorate for the animals sake.

Membership


Fields of GreenTHS dog parks spring to life



There’s something magical about rich green grass underfoot. EverySpring the dog park comes alive again, a small oasis tucked away in

the concrete jungle of downtown Toronto. And believe us, the dogs LOVEit. Watching them run, roll, wrestle and splash with total abandon makeseverything worthwhile.

Fields of Green


It's a dog's life – and deathANIMAL RIGHTS

Q I understand that thousands of

unwanted cats and dogs are killed

each year in Toronto's animal

shelters. How can that be ethically

acceptable in a civilized society?

A How can what be ethically

acceptable? That there are thousands

of unwanted cats and dogs in this city?

Or that they are killed?

Roughly 20,000 pets find their way to

the city's two main shelter systems.

Some are lost; some wild; some old

and sick. Most are unwanted. Their

odds of surviving the experience are

much, much better if they end up at

the Toronto Humane Society (a

charity) than at Toronto Animal

Services (your tax dollars at work).

The difference between the Humane

Society's euthanasia rate of less than 10

per cent, and the Animal Services rate

of roughly 50 per cent, lies in their

purpose and core values.

The Humane Society exists to care for

animals, pure and simple. Their

stated policy, which they defend

stridently, is to put down only

animals that are so sick or mean-

tempered that they could never be

adopted, appropriately, by anyone.

According to Lee Oliver, the Society's

Senior Communicator, THS would

"never" put an animal down simply

because of a lack of space. He claims

there's always room for one more, even

if it means crowding the people a bit.

Judging by the tone of voice he uses

when talking about this, Oliver is not a

man whose dog I would want to kick.

Toronto Animal Services exists to serve

human society, by enforcing the law,

picking up nuisance animals, and so

on. They, too, try to find homes for

unwanted animals.

But when kennel space runs out, an

assessment is done as to which animals

are least likely to be adoptable, and

they are culled from the pack. Some of

these are mortally sick; some are

vicious; most are simply redundant.

According to Eletta Purdy, manager of

TAS, 4,000 cats were put down in 2006

(about half of their total intake), and

more than 1,000 dogs.

The ethics? No one quarrels with putting

down animals too sick to live happily, or

too nasty to place safely. But putting

animals down simply because of space

constraints is another matter. Despite all

our whinging about how we love our

pets, animals in urban society are often

treated as commodities. They are

marketed as aggressively as plasma TVs,

overbred for specific traits, and shown

off like a new iPod. Have you noticed

how often PetSmart opens in the same

plazas as Future Shop? With the same

bright lights and flashy signs. And when

they become redundant, thousands of

dogs and cats are killed each year ...

much as we might discard an old TV.

That's not necessarily the fault of

Toronto Animal Services. They likely

provide the best care they can within

budget and other constraints. It's more

often the fault of careless or outright

cruel owners.

But given my advancing age and bad

temper, if my name were Fluffy and I

were lost I'd rather take my chances on

the Humane Society than on The Pound.

Send your questions directly to

Ken Gallinger at [email protected].

KEN GALLINGER

23Summer 2008

AnimaltalkSummer 2008

Animaltalk

The shelter

environment is not

ideal for any animal. But

for dogs it can be

particularly distressing.

It’s a noisy place,

unfamiliar, full of activity

and very much out of the

ordinary for dogs

especially when they first

arrive. Many of these dogs

have only lived with one

owner and winding up in

The Toronto Humane

Society shelter—though a

safe haven and much

better than the streets or

the city dog pounds—can

be very upsetting or even

depressing to them.

Before they come here

some dogs have been

strays for weeks or

months or longer and

gotten used to eating

garbage or survive on

other things that end up

giving them parasites,

diarrhea and skin

problems. And then there

is just plain old stress.

Some or all of these

things often result in dogs

that don’t have an

appetite. So we’ve begun

to make food more like

what they may have eaten

in their former homes. We

cook rice, ground meat,

some vegetables, egg and

some supplements

According to The

Toronto Humane Society’s

head veterinarian, Dr.

Steve Sheridan, “It’s a

pretty standard formula.”

But he happily admits it

does seem to do the trick.

Food, Glorious FoodNot your average dog’s breakfast

Health

Making HistoryFor the first time in 121 years, The Toronto Humane Society

open a satellite adoption centre




Making History

The Toronto Humane Society has

taken an historic step by opening its

first-ever satellite location. The Toronto

Humane Society Adoption Centre,

located in the Van Horne Plaza, on

Victoria Park Ave, just north of Sheppard,

is a storefront operation specializing in

adoptions. While we were excited by the

prospect of a new centre providing new

hope for the animals, we were blown away

by the way the public shared our vision:

More than 100 people showed up for the

ribbon cutting ceremony, where dignitaries MPP David Caplan (Don Valley East,

Minister of Health and Long-Term Care) and Shelley Carroll (City Councillor for Ward

33 and Budget Chief) helped THS President Tim Trow officially open the centre.


Making History

“For 121 years, the THS has been confined to one building,” THS President Tim Trow told thegathered Grand Opening crowd, “but we know that we serve many people and animals fromthe north-east end of the GTA. With this centre, we’re making it easier for people to open theirhomes to Toronto Humane Society animals.”

The main location, at 11 River St, still houses our main animal hospital, kitten nursery, fosteringoffice, and investigations department. And the bulk of THS adoption will still place in the downtownheadquarters (last year we found homes for 6,372 animals). But already 247 cats, mammals, birdsand rodents have found homes through the satellite centre, making it a powerful tool for findingbetter lives for Toronto’s animals.

And now, as the centre gains traction and is proving itself to be a success, keep an eye open forthe possibility of a THIRD THS location: Coming Soon – Adoptions West.



Making History

Shelley Carroll, City Councillor, Ward 33 and David Caplan,Don Valley East, Minister of Health and Long Term Care.

Like all great institutions, The TorontoHumane Society is a work in progress: a121-year-old work in progress. From it’sbeginnings on Bay St., through a longstretch on Wellesley St. and into the iconicRiver St. building, the THS has alwaysbeen grounded in one location at a time.But as the animal welfare movement hasevolved, so too has the THS.

Here’s a brief look at the evolutionof the places we’ve called home:

In December 1887, The Toronto HumaneSociety was founded by J. J. Kelso tocombat animal cruelty. The first location,from 1888 through 1912 was a smallcentre at 103 Bay St.

As the Society grew, we moved to 197McCaul St. until 1929.

Then came a 50 year stretch onWellesley St.

In 1979 the Society built the currentheadquarters at 11 River St.

In March, 2007, we opened a 6,000 sq ftsecond floor addition to the River Stbuilding, fondly dubbed the Cat Sky House.

April, 2008, the first ever satellite adoptioncentre opened, in the Van Horne Plaza,Victoria Park, just north of Sheppard

Mr & Mrs Ken McKinnon

Emily Dugan

Cosmo, Elmo & Taz

Roy-Rocky & Karl

David Zifkin & Sid Cerkes

Tom Atkinson

Ella Sorensen

Barb Patterson

The MacDonald's Family

Dr. Mark Spiegle & Staff

Carolyn Wohar

Jill & Tim Bourne

Erin Juravsky

Dr. Judith Bonkalo

Natalie Cader-Beutel

Jean McQuattie

…of clients

Isabel

Hannah & Ben Stafl

Margaret Forsey

Mr. Jeff Ray

Jonas Simpson

Casey

Daniel

Leah Holgate

Jack & Leone Callander

Skytronix Clients

Niko

Tim Najonen

Alesandra & Richard Biasi Zappas

Jeff Pangman

Jesse

Chester

Lucy Mirra, Larkell Doyle

Krista Laugaly

Jordan & Abby

Amanda & Ricky

Michelle Balke

Matthew Hudson

Nicholas

Sheldon Rajesky

Erin Juravsky

Wedding Donation for her guests

The Honourable Justice Gilles Renaud

Erin Juravsky

Kevin Covelli

Erin Juravsky

Ms. Deborah Devgan

Dr. Doug Mason

* Donations received December 1, 2007 until May 31, 2008

Tribute gifts are a thoughtful and meaningful way of expressing your good wishes orcommemorating an occasion. With a minimum donation of $80.00, The Toronto Humane Society

will print the name of the friend or family member you choose to honour. This is a great wayto simultaneously acknowledge a loved one and help the many animals in our care.

Call 416.392.2273 ext. 2171


Gifts of Love

In Honour of...

Buster Mac

Sandy Hicks

Frank Harvey Snow

Barbara Palmer

Mark Salter

Grey Kitty

Bonnie O'Donnell

Thor & Bert

Lucy Rohmer

Ceilidh (Kay-lee)

Charlotte Gervis

Russell Short

Frank M Schwieder

Hellen Merifield

Helen Kleinberg

Catherine Baillie

Jamie McGuiness

Harry Zweig

Elizabeth Bettridge

Sonia Janiec

Mrs. Janette Sharkey

Dr. Allen Graham

Jacqueline Martin

Helen Margaret &Kydd Merifield

Conrado Estrada

Kasper & Ted

Nellie Almeida

Eva Schweizer

Dorothy Sparkes

Janet Banaszuk

Mary Nadon

Morty

Dr. James Perkins

Josef Katz

Cinderella

Edna

Helen TurnerMaybury

Kayla

Gatnip Littles

Wilfred Shapiro &Arnold Zurin

Bullet

Mr. Juris GeorgeMitenbergs

Sonia Janiec

Monty

Mr. Peroff

Ruth Johnson

Copper, Shadow &Maisey

Chester & StitchesWhitmell, Anton Toth

Donna & AlanCansdale

Michael John Scott

Mr. Bill Ward

Crawford Noble

Audrey Pretlove

Bet Bronaugh

Dorothy Sparkes

Ronald Mitcher

Dodie Sanders

Cito

Anthony Wilson

Charles Weir, BarryHarvey

Dorothy Dexter

Hokey MacKay

Tasha

Elizabeth Bettridge,George Williamsua

Elizabeth AnnDonaldson, Kiki

Mr John Hutchinson,Mrs Sue Petty & Mr.

Tim Renfrew

John Gallaugher

Vivian Cantle

Mrs. Murella Jervis

Toby

Monkey & Malone

Kato

Ruth Johnson

Ann Le Ber

Lillian Dauphinee

Arliin Louise Caster

Roberta

Joan Lepard

Peter KenwrickChurch

Lucie TuchHomburger

Mark Salter

Mark Howard Salter

Joia

Walter Jones

Tasha

Helen Zepotoczny

Helen Zepotoczny

Victor Barrese

Lorraine Lemberk

Late Father andStepmother

Belinda Gionna

Ronald Mitchell

Jon Ball

Truce

Joyce Hutchings

Barry Mitchell

Juanita Saunderson

Frank W Schwieder

Findley

Robert Foley

Ted Philp

Maria Catandella

Eola Clark

Beverley Sutherland

Bailey

Dorothy ViolaSparkes

Sparky

Helen Davis

Marilyn Liscoumb

Ron Mitchell

* Donations received December 1, 2007 until May 31, 2008

Call 416.392.2273 ext. 2171

With a minimum gift of $80.00, The Toronto Humane Society will print the name ofthe one you wish to pay tribute to. This is a great way to simultaneously acknowledge a

loved one’s memory and help the many homeless animals in our care.



Gifts of Love

In Memory of...

A Surprise Around Every CornerThe THS is more than dogs and cats… way more




When most people talk about The Toronto Humane Society, the conversation

immediately gravitates to cats and dogs. But we’re also the first place to look if

you want to adopt an iguana, bond with a bearded dragon, cuddle a chinchilla, chat with

a cockatiel, or … well, you get the picture: the THS is teeming with fascinating small

mammals, exotic birds and reptiles. Here are some of the surprises in store when you

next visit either the main location or our satellite adoption centre in the Van Horne Plaza.

Small Domestics and Birds


Over our 121 year

history, The Toronto

Humane Society has saved

the lives of thousands of

animals in need of

emergency medical

treatment. We've seen

accidents, neglect and abuse

of every kind. And

sometimes even our best

efforts are not enough.

Other times we look on in

awe as animals that

appeared beyond help have

bounced back to live long,

fruitful lives.

In this space we’ll

profile these Medical

Miracles as they pass

through our emergency

room. As always, we salute

all those who help these

animals pull through.

Cassie

Cassie is an eight-year-old

Dalmatian cross. She was

rushed to The Toronto

Humane Society on Sunday,

March 30, after she was

found lying on the ground

unable to move. Cassie was

just hours from death, in

the advanced stages of

autoimmune hemolytic

anemia. That’s a disease

where the body destroys its

own red blood cells.

“She was in shock, she

was cold, weak and unable

to stand,” said Dr. Rob

Rock, one of The Toronto

Humane Society’s

veterinarians. He ordered

an emergency blood

transfusion. That is not an

easy thing to pull off in

Toronto on a Sunday

afternoon. After that Cassie

was placed on intravenous

fluids and medication to

combat her condition.

Cassie wasn’t out

of the woods, though.

In fact, consensus among

staff veterinarians was

that Cassie would die

that evening.

But no one consulted

Cassie on that. And Cassie

is a fighter!

She made it through the

night and by Monday she

was able to stand. By

Wednesday she was a new

dog, full of life, gaining

energy and ready for

normal walks. She’s a

sweetheart as well. “One of

the friendliest dogs I’ve ever

met,” said Toronto Humane

Society vet Karen Ward.

While Cassie’s prognosis

is still “guardedly

optimistic” it looks as

though this tough and

amazingly sweet dog is on

the road to a full recovery.

After three weeks in the

clinic, Cassie found

a Guardian Angel in

one of our volunteer dog

walkers, who decided

Cassie would be a lot

happier in her home than

in the clinic. The rest, as

they say, is history.

Tazzy

When Tazzy, an 8-year-old

terrier cross came to the

THS, he was literally

starving to death. He had

an severe infection in his

tongue, which left him

unable to eat solid food

(and also prone to

snapping and growling

because of the extreme

pain). The prognosis

was poor.

After several tests, and

an aggressive run of

antibiotics, the THS vets

determined that part of the

tongue had to be

amputated. Once the

damaged portion of tongue

was removed, Tazzy

quickly showed an interest

in soft food. Daily hand-

feeding of a homemade

diet of rice and pureed

meat helped Tazzy regain

his strength and appetite.

Before long he began

eating from his own bowl,

and happily wolfed down

chewy treats.

With the pain of

infection gone, Tazzy

became a happy, social

fella, and that leads us to

the final part of this

miracle: in early April

Tazzy found a new, forever

family and has taken up

residence as the sweet and

spoiled dog he always

deserved to be.

Health

Medical MiraclesCassie & Tazzy

CASSIE TAZZY



Ahead this spring, the

newly renovated

Wildlife Centre has filled

up with injured birds,

orphaned raccoons and a

menagerie of animals

including wild bunnies,

opossums, groundhogs,

swans and just about any

wild urban animal you can

imagine. And every one of

these animals has a story:

One particularly uplifting

wildlife case occurred in

late March, when we

responded to an emergency

call after a red-tailed hawk

crashed into a window on

the 23rd floor of a

downtown high-rise and

plummeted to the ground.

The young hawk (vets think

he’s about one year old)

managed to limp away

from the fall with only a

broken clavicle. He’s

recuperating in our clinic,

and while our vets give him

a 50/50 chance of flying

again, he is healing quickly.

Another occurred a few

days later, when we

responded to an urgent call

on Toronto’s waterfront. A

mute swan was tangled in

fishing line and had a

barbed fishhook stuck in its

foot. Once in the shelter,

our vets removed the hook

and untangled the line. A

few hours later the swan

was released where it was

found and swam off to join

its colony.

This place is for the birds!and raccoons… and squirrels… and opossums…

Wildlife


Igot my father a dog for

Christmas because I

desperately needed help.

It was almost a decade

ago. My parents and I were

suffering terribly as a result

of an estrangement from

my only sibling and his

family and I just couldn’t

handle Christmas alone.

I had only been dating

my Rob for a few months

and he wasn’t yet a regular

fixture at holidays. No

matter how hard I tried,

and believe me I tried, I

wasn’t big enough or loud

enough or entertaining

enough to fill the hole they

left. I just couldn’t take up

enough space.

I needed a dog.

My parents, my dad

especially, have always

adored dogs. Two mutts

had the run of the house

throughout my childhood

and the younger had finally

died at 18 years of age the

previous summer.

Mom felt sure Dad was

ready for another and gave

her blessing for me to pick

one out at The Toronto

Humane Society and

surprise him with it at

Christmas. Get a smaller

dog, she advised.

Something sweet and low-

maintenance.

And that’s what I

intended, I swear.

But we can’t help who or

what we fall in love with.

A pit bull-German

shepherd-doberman

mix (we think), he had

been living at the shelter

for more than three

months. There was a letter

taped to his cage, written

as if by him, begging

someone to give him a

chance. I gathered from

the shelter staff that his

days were numbered.

I had to have him.

I took him home to my

little downtown house and

while he wildly raced

around and around I

called my mom to advise

her that I found a dog that

was a little different from

what we discussed, but

nonetheless, perfect.

And he was perfect, in

his way. From the moment

a few days later when I

dropped him onto my

blindfolded Dad’s lap and

shouted Merry Christmas!,

he was a perfect diversion

from the sadness that back

then hung like a heavy

cloud in my parent’s house.

Hercules became his

name and he was

incorrigible. He chewed

everything he could find.

He climbed the kitchen

table and gobbled bread

baskets and pounds of

butter. He ate a whole raw

chicken my mother was

prepping and threw it up an

hour later. He was so

excitable that a playful tone

of voice would send him

bouncing on all four legs,

three or feet into the air. He

was so hyper that my father

was often forced to wrestle

him to the ground, hold

him there and coo softly in

his ear, imploring him to

relax and calm down.

Hercules did calm down

as time went on. He

became intimately attached

to my father. He insisted on

sitting on his lap,

Gifted

Gifted!How one sweet shelter dog saved my family



burrowing into chest and

tucking his head under his

chin and to this day he

wails and cries like a baby

when left alone. Dad takes

him everywhere; flying him

into his fishing camp and

letting him ride shotgun in

his pick-up truck on

morning coffee runs when

he is treated to a donut

hole daily.

Everywhere they go

people stop them. “What

kind of dog is that?” they

say. “That’s the weirdest

looking dog I’ve ever seen.”

And Dad puts his

hands over Herc’s ears.

“Don’t listen to them

Hercie,” he says. “You’re

a fine-looking dog.”

It seems silly to make

some kind of dramatic

proclamation or put a

cheesy movie-of-the-week

title to this story, a la The

Dog Who Saved My Family!

But in a lot of ways I

think he did.

Hercules made us laugh

and gave us something to

talk about that Christmas

and we needed that. In the

days that followed he made

my parents house a noisy

place to be, a busy place, to

be and they needed that

even more.

He gave my parents

something to focus on

during a very dark period of

their life. He was so grateful

for their love, so overjoyed

to be in their presence, so

friendly and accepting of

everything and everyone in

their world that it was

impossible not to be

infected by his happiness.

And when the rift with

my brother and his children

began to mend Hercules

and his boundless energy

was there to break the ice

and relieve the tension: no

one could refuse him a

smile, no one was unmoved

by his enthusiasm.

Today my parents house,

being on the lake, is a

gathering place for my family

and friends and my brother

and his children and their

friends. Summers especially

are a whirlwind of flying and

boating and barbecues and

laughter and fun.

Hercules is there too of

course. Old and grey and

grizzled now, he’ll join in

the fun if asked, but mainly

sticks close to my father’s

side. And in my typical,

cheesy, movie-of-the-week

way I like to think of both

of them as the glue that

continues to keep our home

and our family together.

This story was originally

published at

www.donmillsdiva.blogspot

.com where the author

regularly writes about

family life.

- Kelly

Gifted

animal talk spring 2008_web

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