As has been reported elsewhere, the dog walking program has been suspended indefintiely at the THS in view of the imminent closure of the faclity for several weeks. Volunteers and caring THS staff scrambled frantically to find homes for the remaining dogs (13) and were successful in obtaining homes - temprorary or permanent - for most (outstanding are Mary Sue - a special needs terrier who is a sweetie, but a handful, Diesel - who we are trying to ascertain what status he has been accorded and why he isn't being released and poor Bandit whose legal standing is still not clear).
Many walkers have subsequently turned their energies to finding homes for the considerable number of cats (and small domestics, including rabbits and rats) still remaining there with the April 12 deadline fast approaching. As we are well aware that rescues are bursting at the seams and that many of these cats are special needs - not special needs as in unplaceable, not special needs as in expensive to keep, but have some needs that not everyone is prepared to take on - we know their chances of surviving in Toronto Animal Services (which has its own plethora of cats - can someone PLEASE EXPLAIN to me why people see cats, loving, caring, beautiful cats, are seen by our society as so DISPOSABLE) are slim. Their chances of surviving in an OSPCA facility (which are themselves crowded and euthainize for far more reasons than the THS ever considered acceptable) are even slimmer.
Two walkers turned up this weekend to meet some cats - special need cats, mind you - as they planned to adopt.
They were stopped by security staff, asked their names, had to produce identification and then were escorted OUT ... they were told by order of the OSPCA they were barrred from any contact with any of the THS animals.
We then learned through another source, a very senior volunteer with the cats was similarly treated!
What is WRONG with the ospca?
That is three cats that might have found homes that have now lost the opportunity and in fact, may very face a very real risk of euthanization.
it certaintly brings vindicativeness to a new low.
Selkie, I agree that the volunteers were treated shabbily. You can feel the "police state" so thick in the air you can cut it with a knife. With the closures, restrictions and layoffs, the hands of those desperately trying to work with and adopt out the animals have been tied. I seriously expect the new board to strike a better working relationship with the OSPCA without becoming the OSPCA.
ReplyDeleteJust before the walking was suspended, it was at the point of ridiculousness. When i was walking one of the few dogs to which we were granted access, in the space of half an hour TWO security guards, one OSPCA lawyer, one THS staff and an OSPCA officer were out watching me.... it was so ridiculous it was funny - but at the same time incredibly offensive.
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