Summer 2009
Animaltalk
3
T
he Toronto HumaneSociety, Canada’s first “humane society”, hasalways been the leader –first hospital, first to start foster care, and first with apolice constable. And,withmoderninnova-tion and old-fashioned hard work, The Toronto HumaneSociety continues to take aleadership role. Today, weare the first to stop infection with an in-house microbiol-ogist and the first to installnebulizer units to help cats with URI, the #1 killer of lost and abandoned cats. We are the busiest humanesocietyinCanadawith83,271admissionsinthepast7years. Animals admitted, many of whom have never seen a doc-tor, are examined by the vet-erinarians and temperament assessed, spayed or neutered,microchippedandvaccinated. Those who need surgery or medical treatment get it.It’s a mammoth undertak-ing,onewhichisnotpossible without your financial sup-port, as The Toronto HumaneSociety receives no govern-ment funding. Other support comes from the community when people step forward tobecome an adoptive family.Even though we do our best to make the animals comfort-able at The Toronto HumaneSociety, what each animalreally wants is a secondchance in a new home.Being a leader amongst humane societies means sup-port both Province andCanada-wide. Italsoprovidesan opportunity to experiencemishaps and attract criticism.Being innovative alsoattracts doubters.I remember the fury in the80’s with the introduction of foster care. People fearedshelter animals being disrup-tive in the community. It isthe same today as some peo-ple can’t envisage life for spe-cial needs animals. Relativetothethousandsofdogs,cats wehelp,thehandicappedarebut a handful. But none aremoreimportantbecausethey need us so. There will be aday when others will join usin reducing euthanasia by saving these loving anddeservingpets. Theywilljoina growing number of those who already provide pallia-tive care in their homes and whoknowtherewardsofcar-ing for pets with handicaps. This issue of Animaltalk highlights one of our variedprogram to help feral cats. Insome places, ferals are con-sidered a problem or even amenace. Manysaythereisnohope for these cats, but wehave proven otherwise. That’s leadership. The Toronto Humanestaked out its mission of doingthehardestofjobsandcaring for the most desperateones with no one else whocares.. Looking forward andplanning how to help theseanimals in the future is achallengeasweneedtogrow.I see our scarce resourcesbeing best applied in 3 areas:
Adoption -
We need a sec-ond free-standing adoptioncentre. Adopting animals at the Van Horne Plaza in Don Valley East has worked out well with over 900 animalsfinding a home. Let’s dupli-cate that success.
Rescue -
The charismatic Tre Smith has built Toronto Animal Rescue into a force tobe noted, responding on theroadtoalmost1,100callslast year. But we need another officer and another van toaugment our heroic rescuestaff on the streets.
Veterinary Care -
The shel-terveterinarycarenetworkthat Dr. Sheridan has pioneereddelivers the skills of superbpractitioners to ensure that it’snot just up-town pets that are well cared for, but the lost andabandonedaswell. Veterinary care is detailed and expensive,butanimalswillnevergetafair shake until each life mattersand the lives of none are con-sideredexpendable. What I am proposing is abig agenda, but leaders like The Toronto Humane Society must look forward beyondthe present. We must contin-ue to remind ourselves that when we work together,nothingisbeyondourability. That’s why this issue of Animaltalkasksyoutoensurethat you purchase your mem-bership. The cost is $30.00annually per member and$10.00 for Senior Members. We want you to continue tobe part of the excitement of helping animals at The Toronto Humane Society.
Toronto Humane SocietyLeadership in Animal Care
Message from the President
Tim Trow, President
Leave a Comment