Cat Crisis at Toronto Humane Society

[debbie]

"Free to a good home" - Desperate cat crisis at the Toronto Humane Society

The sudden need to shelter 37 additional cats and kittens that could no longer be cared for by an elderly couple has pushed the numbers of felines at The Toronto Humane Society shelter to over 500.

"It's the most desperate crisis ever," said Society President, Tim Trow. "As full as we are, we couldn't turn them away."

"Instead," said Trow, "we are calling on members of the community to open their homes and hearts to a cat and we want to make that happen by waiving our $25 adoption fee from Friday, July 29 until Monday, August 1.

The newly homeless cats and kittens were rescued by Society Investigators Lynne Barrington and Linda Vitarelli along with Toronto Police on Wednesday evening. The cats will be health checked by Society veterinarians today and will be ready for adoption on the weekend.

The standard adoption process will apply and potential adopters need to fill out an application and go through the interview process.

Included with each adoption:

- Vaccinations to date
- One month Pet Plan insurance
- Microchip identification implant
- Flea control treatment
- Sample bag of Royal Canin Inc. cat/kitten food
- Cat care information booklet
- Many shelter animals have already been spayed or neutered

For adoption information, or to view the many adorable animals looking for new homes, go to www.torontohumanesociety.com or visit the shelter at 11 River St.

[Cat person]

Please people, adopt a cat! :)

[Doug Smith]

I have 2 dogs, a cat and a small rodent but when I first started out and wanted a cat the Toronto Humane Society rejected my wife and me. Their interview program needs to be refined or done away with(like the scarborugh system). In Scarborough you pay the fee, get the animal and if it doesnt work out for you, you can return it.You dont get your money back and if you want to try again you pay again. The last time i was there with my wife they had maybe 20 cats.

[reiver]

There's nothing like zero adoptions fees and no interview process to help encourage people into thinking cats are disposable pets, which is why they end up at Humane Societies in the first place.

[Tim]

I have to agree with Doug. My wife and I were rejected last time too, and we have a 'special case' cat we got from them a year earlier, which has taken thousands of dollars and hours of care. Their interview process needs better people with more experience. The person we dealt with was both rude, and insulting.

[Petros]

People please adopt.

I have a cat, and would love to adopt another. Will look into doing so.

[Tim]

sorry I didn't mean to imply don't adopt. Just a comment on some of their staff. Probably better to have not posted it.

[Swordfish]

I have a cat to since he was a kitten he gets on my nerves sometimes but honestly Id be lost without him.

There is all kinds of wonderful pets for adoption at the humanes society I would not hesitate to adopt a cat again :)

[frostyone]

The Toronto Humane Soceity has been mired in controversy for years.
A decade ago they were taken over by animal rights activists. Real nutters.
Think cats should be vegan. pets are people etc.
They went right wild.
Refused to account for donations, money etc,
Many court cases, massive expenses later they were finally ( supposedly) removed as officers and directors.
The THS was and remains a private company, which was contracted by the city to act as a pound etc.
They lost this contract as well.

Their former executive is still active in "animal rights" movement
here's some current quotes from a past president of THS she is currently:
"against the use of animals in the manufacture of all textiles: down and feathers, silk , wool "
"opposes the use of animals for human consumption. " No milk, eggs, pure vegan
"Thanksgiving is Murder"

You might find this statement from a past director, writing for the Animal Liberation Front, ironic:

"the latest "unofficial" word from the THS is, guess what...that "management" is trying to force staff to reduce the stringency of their screening of perspective adopters. "

I thought these problems regarding "adoption" interviews etc. were over.

[Cat person]

Sounds like the interview process needs improvement. If it was that bad over here it would put people off getting a cat from one of the shelters and instead adopting one of the "free to good home" kittens advertised in the local paper. My current cat was dumped outside my back door when he was less than four weeks old, he's now a happy, healthy twelve year old.